§ Mr. PondTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will publish the report of his Department's review of the Pilotage Act 1987; and if he will make a statement. [53547]
§ Ms Glenda JacksonThe report of this review has been published today and I will place a copy in the Library of the House.
We have concluded that harbour pilotage services should continue to be provided by harbour authorities but increasingly integrated into their overall safety systems. These systems need to be reviewed as a whole if the highest standards are to be achieved.
We therefore propose to develop with the industry and other interests a "Marine Operations Code for Ports". We aim to set a national safety standard, and to create a guide for harbour authorities to prepare detailed safety policies. We look to them to consult local users and other interests in this process and to publish the resulting plans.