§ Mrs. EwingTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list those regulations which apply to the use of speedboats in inshore waters surrounding the United Kingdom; how many prosecutions hav been brought by(a) individuals and (b) local authorities against owners or users of speedboats in the context of the breach of national legislation or local byelaws in each of the past five years; and what consideration is being given to additional restrictions applicable to the onwership or use of such speedboats.
§ Mr. NorrisThere are no national regulations governing the ownership and use of recreational craft in inshore waters. Local authorities in England and Wales have powers to make byelaws under section 231 of the Public Health Act 1936 for the regulation of vessels used for pleasure purposes; under section 76 of the Public Health Act 1961, for the regulation of seaside pleasure boats; and under section 235 of the Local Government Act 1972, for the regulation and suppression of nuisances by district and borough councils where no other powers are available. In Scotland, local authorities have powers under section 121 of the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 to make byelaws in relation to the sea shore, adjacent waters and inland waters. Separate provisions exist for local authorities in Northern Ireland.
Figures for prosecutions under byelaws are not collected centrally and no information is readily available on prosecutions by individuals.
In its first report the National Maritime Safety Steering Committee has drawn attention to problems identified by the district marine safety committees with the making of effective byelaws to control recreational craft on inland and inshore waters. These problems are also considered in a consultation document published in October 1993 by the 197W Department of the Environment and the Welsh Office—"Managing the Coast—A review of Coastal Management Plans in England and Wales and the powers supporting them".
The report of the NMSSC has also drawn attention to a number of recommendations referred to it by the DMSCs relating to the further regulation of recreational craft and their users in the interests of safety. These recommendations are currently under consideration by the Department.