§ Mrs. DunwoodyTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the number of ships on the British register for each of the last 10 years. [24]
§ Mr. BowisThe number of United Kingdom registered trading vessels of 500 gross tons and over for the last 10 years are listed in table 3.5 of "Merchant Fleet Statistics 1995". The information is as follows:
United Kingdom registered trading vessels 500 gross tons or over 31 December 1986 to 31 December 1995 Tonnage in thousand Number Gross tonnage Deadweight tonnage 1986 482 7,024 10,349 1987 410 4,877 6,234 1988 375 4,532 5,619 1989 361 4,236 5,193 1990 337 3,697 4,213 1991 321 3,433 3,812 1992 291 3,329 3,749 1993 273 3,327 3,722 1994 282 3,637 3,889 1995 271 3,729 3,981
§ Mrs. DunwoodyTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what action he has undertaken to increase the number of ships on the British register; and if he will make a statement. [23]
§ Mr. BowisThe Government have adopted a range of targeted measures to improve the attractiveness of the Red Ensign. These have included: simplification of registration and other technical procedures; provision of substantial assistance for seafarer training; liberalisation of outdated officer nationality requirements; and the introduction of roll-over tax relief for replacing aging tonnage.
98W