HC Deb 22 February 1993 vol 219 cc415-6W
Mr. Devlin

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps are taken to ensure that ships entering British coastal waters are seaworthy.

Mr. Norris

All ships entering British coastal waters must carry valid safety certificates issued on behalf of the flag stage stating that the ship meets international requirements.

United Kingdom ships are subject to surveys and random inspections by surveyors from the Department of Transport who also inspect foreign ships arriving at British ports under port state control procedures.

Over 30 per cent., of foreign ships arriving at British ports are inspected under these procedures and it is

British Rail investment expenditure 1979 to 1991–92
£ million cash
New routes New electrification Rolling stock Other capital investment Infrastructure Total
Rail Non-rail revenue investment
1979 1 5 93 48 14 106 266
1980 0 5 122 54 14 115 309
1981 0 4 106 47 13 107 277
1982 0 2 98 41 6 111 258
1983 0 4 70 54 5 146 279
1984–85 0 13 79 95 13 201 402
1985–86 3 36 80 131 12 150 412
1986–87 8 43 79 147 19 102 398
1987–88 9 43 100 148 9 172 481
1988–89 9 20 206 152 25 148 560
1989–90 42 38 208 223 27 174 712
1990–91 63 29 262 267 30 182 833
1991–92 97 25 325 320 34 205 1,005

estimated that 80 per cent. of all ships arriving at ports within the area controlled by the memorandum of understanding for port state control are inspected.