§ Mr. Austin MitchellTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions under what statutory provisions a competent harbour authority is required to ensure the safe provision of a pilotage service. [43973]
§ Mr. JamiesonA competent harbour authority has a duty under section 2 of the Pilotage Act 1987 to keep under consideration whether any and, if so, what pilotage services need to be provided to secure the safety of ships navigating in or in the approaches to its harbour.
§ Mr. Austin MitchellTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what legislative authority the Port Marine Safety Code carries. [43974]
§ Mr. JamiesonThe legislative authority of the code comprises the legal duties and powers of harbour authorities relating to marine safety. It was agreed with the representative bodies with whom the code was developed that it did not need to create new legal duties for harbour authorities, and it has been implemented without the Government having to take—or confer on harbour authorities—any new powers for that purpose.
§ Mr. Austin MitchellTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will review the Pilotage Act 1987. [43952]
§ Mr. JamiesonThe Government has already undertaken a review of the Pilotage Act, which was published in July 1998.