HC Deb 28 January 2003 vol 398 cc724-5W
Mr. Don Foster

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many official breaches of security have taken place at UK ports in each year since 1997, broken down by(a) region, (b) port and (c) type of breach. [93244]

Mr. Jamieson

Since 1997 my Department has recorded a total of 20 breaches of port security, ie instances where individuals have gained unauthorised access to Restricted Zones at ports. It is not appropriate to give a detailed breakdown of either the specific port or region where these breaches took place for obvious reasons.

Mr. Don Foster

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what(a) court actions and other prosecutions have taken place and (b) fines or other actions have been imposed, against (i) UK ports and (ii) other marine organisations and activities in response to breaches of security which have taken place at UK ports in each year since 1997; and what the nature of the breaches were in each case. [93245]

Mr. Jamieson

No court actions and/or other prosecutions have taken place. From 1 January 1997 until 31 December 2002 a total of seven Enforcement Notices (ENs) have been served on UK harbour authorities and harbour operators. The ENs were served under the provisions of the Aviation and Maritime Security Act 1990 and related to failings to meet the requirements of that Act. Details are as follows:

Year Number of ENs Failings
1997 1 Restricted Zone(RZ) access control
1998 0
1999 0
2000 1 RZ access control
2001 4 Pass display (2); lack of suitably trained search staff; RZ access control
2002 1 RZ access control