§ Mr. JamiesonTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what proportion of his Department's budget was allocated to shipping matters in(a) 1979 and (b) 1996. [7837]
§ Mr. Bowis[holding answer 9 December 1996]: Shipping matters were the responsibility of the Department of Trade and Industry in 1979. Net expenditure in 1996–97 on these services, including the Marine Safety Agency, the Coastguard Agency and their associated administrative costs, forms 2 per cent. of the Department of Transport's overall expenditure control total.