§ Mr. SternTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the role of his Department in the licensing of scheduled ferries to any destination in balancing demand and provision.
§ Mr. NorrisThe Department has no such role. However, surveyors from the Department's Surveyor General's Organisation carry out surveys on United Kingdom-flagged ferries to ensure compliance with statutory safety standards. Foreign-flagged ferries are also inspected under the port state control arrangements for compliance with international standards.