§ Mr. FlynnTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will support the Japanese proposal for regional agreements within the International Maritime Organisation on ro-ro ferries; and if he will(a) support a decision on the matter at the November meetings of the IMO and (b) support a modification date for existing ferries of no more than three years from the November meetings. [31612]
§ Mr. NorrisThe United Kingdom will pursue the application on a worldwide basis of the high standards recommended by the panel of experts for ro-ro ferries. If it is evident that this will not attract sufficient support at the IMO, the earliest application of that standard to ferries operating to and from United Kingdom ports will be vigorously pursued within a regional concept similar to that put forward by Japan.