§ Mr. StephenTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what action is taken at the time, or subsequently, if a vessel is observed to be violating the rules for preventing collisions in the English channel;
(2) what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the rules for preventing collisions in the English channel and the policing of the rules by radar or otherwise.
§ Mr. NorrisThe channel traffic separation scheme, coupled with radar surveillance by the United Kingdom and France of traffic in the Dover strait, has been effective in reducing the level of accidents in the area by over 85 per cent. Where there is evidence of a contravention of the rules, appropriate follow-up action will be taken by the Department which may include prosecution.