§ Lord Swinfenasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they consider that each United Kingdom port has a sufficient number of pilots for its safe operation; and, if not, whether they are satisfied by the action being taken by the relevant harbour authority to rectify the situation; and
Why the United Kingdom exemption from compulsory pilotage rules is less stringent than the exemptions of other European countries; and whether they propose to review the situation; and
Whether, in progressing towards risk analysis in the marine environment, they will require competent harbour authorities to consult with their pilots; and
Whether they will review the process whereby competent harbour authorities obtain revision orders under the Pilotage Act 1987 so as to ensure that all relevant parties and experts are consulted.
§ Baroness HaymanI refer to the Answer I gave to the noble Lord, Lord Gallacher, on 16 July, relating to publication of the report by the Marine Accident Investigation Branch on the "Sea Empress", in which I referred to the Deputy Prime Minister's decision that the department should undertake a review of the Pilotage Act 1987. The Act places upon the competent harbour authority a duty to keep under review the need for pilotage in their harbour areas, to ensure that they have sufficient pilots and to regulate the issue of pilotage exemption certificates: these are operational matters for those authorities. The procedures for making harbour revision orders to amend an authority's pilotage jurisdiction already include provision for all interested parties to make representations and for public inquiries where there are objections.