§ Mr. Alan ReidTo ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on departmental responsibility for the safety of(a) passengers, (b) employees of the operators of the pier and (c) employees of the operators of the ship while (i) embarking on and (ii) disembarking from a ship at a port in Scotland. [87513]
§ The Prime MinisterHealth and safety and maritime matters are reserved to the UK Government. Ship operations are regulated by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, an Executive Agency of the Department for Transport. Dock operations, which include the embarkation and disembarkation of passenger and crew, are regulated by the Health and Safety Executive, which is sponsored by the Department for Work and Pensions.