§ Mrs. DunwoodyTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) if he will take steps to introduce higher penalties for the evasion of safety regulations on(a) United Kingdom ships and (b) foreign ships using United Kingdom ports; [114522]
(2) if he will take steps to introduce higher penalties for the evasion of safety regulations on (a) UK ships and (b) foreign ships using UK ports. [114701]
§ Mr. HillIt is Government policy to follow up all significant breaches of the safety aspects of Merchant Shipping legislation to determine the appropriate action in particular cases, up to and including prosecution. There is no evidence that the available sanctions, which include detention of ships, fines and, in one recent case, imprisonment, are inappropriate.