HC Deb 10 December 1997 vol 302 cc547-8W
Mr. Godman

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to introduce regulations governing the carriage of survival suits on board all United Kingdom registered fishing vessels. [19554]

Ms Glenda Jackson

The 1993 Protocol to the International (Torremolinos) Convention for the Safety of Fishing Vessels, though not yet in force, will require the carriage of immersion suits on larger new vessels. Its provisions will be applied within the European Union during 1999 by means of a Directive for a harmonised safety regime for fishing vessels of 24 meters in length and above. Accordingly, we will introduce regulations to require the carriage of immersion suits on new vessels of 24 meters in length and above. We have no plans to extend this requirement to other UK registered fishing vessels without further consultation with the industry.