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Lifeboat Accidents
Earl Attlee asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What is their reaction to the Marine Accident Investigation Branch's recent report into lifeboat accidents during training. [HL1616]
Lord Macdonald of Tradeston: The report into lifeboat and launching system accidents is currently under examination by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency. A detailed response will be made when all the issues raised have been considered.
Earl Attlee asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What information they have regarding the number of incidents, injuries and lives lost involving ships' lifeboats between 1989 and 1999 under the classifications of:
(a) hooks;
(b) tricing and bowsing;
(c) falls sheaves and blocks;
(d) engine and starting;
(e) gripes;
(f) winches;
(g) davits;
(h) free-fall;
(i) weather;
(j) not otherwise classified; and
(k) successful evacuation achieved. [HL1617]
Lord Macdonald of Tradeston: The Marine Accident Investigation Branch has recently published a safety study entitled Review of Lifeboat and Launching Systems' Accidents. This contains statistics for each of the categories listed covering the period 1991-99. Information for the years 1989 and 1990 is not available in this form.
Lifeboat Launching Equipment
Earl Attlee asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What major changes have taken place in the design of lifeboat launching equipment since the First World War. [HL1618]
Lord Macdonald of Tradeston: A number of improvements have been made to lifeboat launching equipment since the First World War. The original manually operated systems, relying on blocks and tackle of natural fibre ropes, have been replaced by more efficient mechanical systems. Modern davits are fabricated in steel, rely on gravity for operation and are designed to minimise malfunction. Today, falls are constructed of steel multi-core wire ropes and the launching systems are designed with simultaneous release mechanisms to avoid the possibility of a boat hanging from the second set of falls.
Royal Navy Officers: Merchant Navy Master's Certificate
Earl Attlee asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether suitably qualified deck officers of the Royal Navy are able to acquire a merchant navy master's certificate; and, if so, what conditions are attached. [HL1619]
Lord Macdonald of Tradeston: On 7 December 1999, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) signed a memorandum of understanding with the Royal Navy. This recognised the components of the RN Seaman Branch training that meet the requirements for merchant navy deck officers as specified by the international Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers, 1978, as amended in 1995 (STCW 95), to which the UK is a signatory.
The RN and MCA teams identified differences in the RN training when compared to the requirements for merchant ships. When these differences are made up, deck officer qualifications may be awarded following an Oral Examination before an MCA examiner of masters and mates.
There is no provision for an RN officer to be granted a master's certificate without first holding an STCW
officer of the watch certificate followed by a chief mate's certificate. However, an accelerated route has been agreed, recognising the high quality of the RN training and experience.Typically, the areas in which RN officers are required to undergo training, beyond that required for RN service, are cargo work, stability, medical care and shipmaster's business and law.
Aviation Health Working Group
Baroness Wilcox asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What benefits to the travelling public have flowed from the new inter-departmental Aviation Health Working Group; and what items are on the agenda for the next meeting. [HL1628]
Lord Macdonald of Tradeston: The first meeting of the Aviation Health Working Group took place on 26 March 2001. This was a preparatory meeting which was attended by representatives from the permanent members of the group: in the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions, the Department of Health, the Civil Aviation Authority and the Health and Safety Executive. The meeting considered a strategy for taking forward the issues identified in the government response to the Inquiry into Air Travel and Health as within the remit of the Aviation Health Working Group: information on deep vein thrombosis, research issues, in-flight medical emergencies, fitness to fly, health briefings and noise.
It is important that the Aviation Health Working Group meets regularly to consider a very full agenda. The next meeting will be held on 4 May 2001 and meetings will be held roughly every six weeks for the rest of the year. The agenda for the next meeting has not yet been finalised, but interested parties, including health experts and airline representatives, will be invited to attend.
Accessible Public Transport: EC Directive
Lord Harrison asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether they support the European Union directive for accessible public transport, recently agreed in the European Parliament. [HL1665]
Lord Macdonald of Tradeston: The European Parliament has completed its second reading of the Proposal for a Directive on Bus and Coach Construction. The Government welcome this directive, which sets minimum construction standards for new buses and coaches, including improved facilities for disabled passengers, and should assist UK manufacturers to sell vehicles throughout the European Community. The provisions on accessibility are similar to national PSV Regulations introduced on 31 December 2000 and mean that in future all buses will be required to provide wheelchair access as well as a range of other facilities for disabled passengers.
Transport Council, 5 April
Lord Morris of Castle Morris asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What was the outcome of the Transport Council held in Luxembourg on 5 April. [HL1740]
Lord Macdonald of Tradeston: My honourable friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Mr Hill) represented the United Kingdom at the Council.
The Council opened with a policy debate on the Commmission's second package of maritime safety issues. The Presidency presented a questionnaire focusing on the three elements in the package: improved ship monitoring, an additional compensation fund mechanism in cases of oil pollution and the creation of a European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA). The Commission hoped for common positions at the June Council. The United Kingdom stressed the importance of considering these proposals in the context of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and of existing member state competence, an approach shared by most member states present.
On Galileo, the Council adopted an approach that established milestones for future significant decisions about the launch of the development (December 2001) and the deployment (December 2003) phases. My honourable friend was one of a number of Ministers to speak in support of this approach, which is intended to ensure that the project is based on sound financial management and private sector financing, as required by successive conclusions of the European Council. The decision milestones are necessary if Galileo is to deliver tangible benefits to the public and provide the taxpayer with good value for money. The UK also argued for more work to be carried out this year to meet UK and other member states' concerns about costs, management arrangements, the definition of the services and attracting private finance. This work will help the Council make an informed decision in December about the future of the project.
The Council agreed a Resolution setting out priorities for further progress in integrating environmental issues into transport policy. The Commission said it would follow up many of these priorities in the forthcoming Common Transport Policy White Paper.
There was a progress report and policy debate on the draft regulation establishing a European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). The Presidency sought views on the key issue of which aircraft should be covered, the mechanism of appointment of the executive director, and inspections of member states and investigations of undertakings. The UK joined other member states in expressing the views that only member states registered aircraft should be covered, that the executive director should be appointed by the agency's administrative board and that EASA should have the powers of inspection and investigation. The Presidency concluded that discussion should continue
in the working group, aiming for a common position as soon as practicable.The Council agreed Conclusions urging member states to be in a position to ratify the Montreal Convention on air carrier liability by 31 December 2001. The Council also agreed a Decision for Community ratification of the Convention, to be deposited simultaneously with those of the member states. The Presidency hoped that a decision on a revision of Regulation 2027-97 would be taken in June.
The Commissioner reported on her recent visit to the United States to discuss ways to limit aircraft noise in future. She felt the exchange had been useful and further technical meetings had since been arranged.
The Commissioner also initiated a discussion on the state of the European airline industry, arguing that a Community mandate to negotiate with the US was a necessary precursor of airline consolidation.
The Presidency presented a framework for the Community to negotiate on aviation environmental issues, particularly aircraft noise, in the run-up to the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) General Assembly in September. This framework was agreed unanimously.
Pending the First Reading of the European Parliament there was political agreement on the text of a Regulation requiring third country lorry drivers to carry a certificate of legal employment. The UK maintained a parliamentary scrutiny reserve.
Following a Commission presentation, the Presidency confirmed that the directive on professional driver training would be discussed at the June Council.
The Council debated a proposed amendment to the directive on weights and dimensions of heavy vehicles, requiring member states to accept the use of 15m buses. The Presidency presented a global compromise addressing delegations' outstanding concerns. At the end of the debate, the Presidency concluded that there was general political agreement but that the text of a derogation for the UK (addressing our concerns at the out-swing of these vehicles) would be remitted to Coreper for further consideration.
The Council adopted Conclusions on the Commission's recent recommendation on the maximum permitted blood alcohol level for drivers. The Conclusions underline the importance of progress on a range of drink drive measures including collaboration between member states.
The Council discussed a proposed amendment to the directive on compulsory use of safety belts and child restraint systems. The text under discussion attempted to solve outstanding concerns on the detailed requirements for young children to use adult seat belts in the absence of appropriate child restraints. A number of member states had concerns about the proposals. The UK was among those taking the view that it required further examination. The Presidency concluded that the Council could not reach agreement
and remitted the text for further consideration at the technical level, hoping for a common position in June.There was a progress report and policy debate on new proposals to update the procurement procedures for public transport services. The Commission hoped that the new regulations would be discussed in June.
There was a discussion over lunch of the draft directive on the harmonisation of weekend lorry bans. The Commission emphasised the importance of harmonising the periods during which member states may impose bans and stressed that the proposal applied only to new bans and to the transport Trans-European Network. Consultation would be required on the imposition of new bans. The UK was one of a number of member states which supported the proposal.
The Commission noted the success of the Ecopoints system in managing lorry transits through Austria. It would be maintained only until 2003. The Commission undertook to issue a report soon about operation of the system.
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