HC Deb 10 January 1996 vol 269 c244W
Mr. Allen

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make public the inspection reports relating to cross-channel ferries. [8232]

Mr. Norris

I have asked the chief executive of the Marine Safety Agency to write to the hon. Member.

Letter from R. M. Bradley to Mr. Graham Allen, dated 10 January 1996: The Secretary of State for Transport has asked me to reply to your Question about the inspection reports relating to cross-Channel ferries. In his answer to the hon. Member for Stoke on Trent North, Ms Walley, on 27 April 1995 (Hansard volume 258 columns 614-615), Mr Norris stated the Government's belief that there is no benefit to the travelling public to be gained from the release of the results of routine inspections. The technical content of the report would not be easily comprehensible and could be open to misinterpretation. In cases where an inspection of foreign registered roll-on roll-off ferry reveals serious deficiencies which lead to its detention, the details would be included in the list of ships detained in UK ports, which is published monthly by the Marine Safety Agency.