§ Tony BaldryTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what further representations the Government will make to meet its pledge at the World Summit on Sustainable Development to encourage other Governments to ratify the International Maritime Organisation convention. [74616]
§ Mr. JamiesonThe World Summit on Sustainable Development's Plan of Implementation identifies the enhancement of maritime safety and protection of the marine environment from pollution as important objectives, and in this context makes reference—inter alia—to actions at all levels to invite States to ratify or accede to and implement the conventions and protocols and other relevant instruments of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) relating to the enhancement of maritime safety and protection of the marine environment from marine pollution and environmental damage caused by ships.
The majority of coastal and flag states are already parties to the Convention on the International Maritime Organization ("the IMO Convention"). The UK is 731W active in seeking to ensure that states meet their responsibilities in the fields of maritime safety, and environmental protection from shipping, at the IMO.
The UK will continue to be active, both in the forum of the EU and in that of the IMO, in encouraging other states to ratify and implement the IMO conventions which are of such importance to us and other maritime nations.
In particular, since June 2001 the UK has been active within the EU in promoting a strategy for implementation of IMO conventions to significantly improve the compensation arrangements following pollution from shipping and to improve response to marine pollution.