HC Deb 18 November 1996 vol 285 cc411-2W
Mrs. Dunwoody

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what proposals he has to issue deregulation orders relating to the rates of pay for crew members aboard merchant ships. [4115]

Mr. Bowis

There are currently no plans to issue any deregulation orders in respect of seamen's rates of pay.

Mrs. Dunwoody

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what proposals he has to issue deregulation orders relating to crew accommodation aboard merchant ships. [4114]

Mr. Bowis

Current Merchant Shipping (Crew Accommodation) Regulations have been considered in the context of the regulatory review of merchant shipping legislation. The aim has been to remove material which is over-specified and unnecessarily detailed, so far as is consistent with safety and with international treaty obligations which, in this case, are International Labour Organisation conventions 92 and 133. The Marine Safety Agency has recently undertaken formal consultation with the shipping industry on the draft Merchant Shipping (Crew Accommodation) Regulations 1996. These are not intended to reduce the present standards of accommodation or to remove provisions which go beyond the requirements of ILO conventions but to make the regulations more flexible and to make it possible for new solutions to be sought to current problems whilst maintaining existing standards of accommodation.

Mrs. Dunwoody

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what proposals he has to issue deregulation orders relating to the plimsoll line. [4113]

Mr. Bowis

Current Merchant Shipping (Load Line) Regulations have been considered in the context of the regulatory review of merchant shipping legislation. The aim has been to remove material which is over-specified and unnecessarily detailed, so far as is consistent with safety. The Marine Safety Agency has recently completed formal consultation with the shipping industry on the draft Merchant Shipping (Load Line) Regulations 1996.