HC Deb 12 March 1998 vol 308 cc264-5W
Sir Richard Body

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for St. Ives (Mr. George) of 3 March 1998,Official Report, column 546, on the fishing industry, what estimate he has made of the costs of implementing the EC Directives on health and safety; and if he will list the directives concerned. [33889]

Ms Glenda Jackson

I have asked the Chief Executive of the Marine Safety Agency, Mr. Robin Bradley, to write to the hon. Member.

Letter from R. M. Bradley to Sir Richard Body, dated 12 March 1998: The Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions has asked me to reply to your question about the costs of implementing the EC Directives on health and safety for fishing vessels. I attach a complete list of the EC directives on occupational health and safety, all of which apply to fishing vessels although some will have minimal effect. The Merchant Shipping and Fishing Vessels (Health and Safety at Work) Regulations 1997 (S.I. 1997/2962), which come into force on 31 march, implement three EC directives:

  • Council Directive 89/391/EC—the "Framework directive";
  • Council Directive 91/383/EC—the "temporary workers directive"; and
  • Council Directive 92/85/EC—the "pregnant workers directive".
A Compliance Cost Assessment (CCA) was published with the draft regulations at public consultation stage, as is standard procedure for new regulations which have cost implications for businesses, charities or voluntary organisations. A copy has been placed in the House of Commons library. The CCA shows estimated set up costs between £400 and £1,000 per vessel, and ongoing costs of between £300 and £800 per vessel per year—this however is considered to be very much a worst case estimate. Work is in progress to implement three further daughter directives:
  • Council Directive 93/103—the "fishing vessels" directive;
  • Council Directive 90/269—the "manual handling" directive; and
  • Council Directive 94/33/EC—the "young workers" directive.
 Fishing Vessels Directive
  • In order to implement the fishing vessels directive, amendments are due to be made to:
  • Fishing Vessel (Safety Provisions) Rules 1975
  • Fishing Vessel (Life Saving Appliances) Regulations 1988
  • Merchant Shipping (Fishing Vessel) Crew Accommodation Regulations 1975.
 Many of the provisions of the directive are already required by existing domestic regulations for vessels of 24m and over. The amendments will extend those provisions to new vessels of 15m and over with immediate effect and to existing vessels of 18m and over from November 2002. Currently there are some 850 existing vessels of 18m and over. A CCA was published at public consultation stage. This gives a worst case estimate for set up costs of £15,400 per new vessel and £11,700 per existing vessel, with recurring costs of £2,500 per vessel. Manual Handling Directive Public consultation is now in progress on regulations to implement the manual handling directive. Our initial view is that there will be no compliance costs additional to those already identified for the framework directive. Young Workers Directive Draft regulations are being prepared to implement the young workers directive and we are seeking advice from industry on the likely compliance costs of those provisions which apply to fishing vessels. Work on implementing the remaining daughter directives, which in each case will include consideration of the compliance costs in consultation with industry, will proceed in due course. EC OHS Directives: The daughter directives