Written question asked by Lord Berkeley (Labour), in the House of Lords. It was answered by Earl Attlee (Conservative) on Wednesday, 24 November 2010.

Towing Vessels

Question: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answers by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Roads and Motoring, Mike Penning, on 3 November (HC Deb, col 801W) stating that they will no longer fund the Anglian Prince tugboat as an emergency towing vessel, whether they will apply the same financial criteria to the provision of emergency aids to navigation and instruct the General Lighthouse Authorities to reduce their costs by using commercial vessels.

Answer: Less than 2 per cent of the operational time of the ships currently owned and operated by the General Lighthouse Authorities is spent on average dealing with emergency hazards and aids to navigation casualties. The Department for Transport reviews the provision of the vessels regularly as part of the fleet review process, the last review concluding in 2009.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 3920; 722 c360WA
Session: 2010-12
Related items: Towing Vessels
Thursday, 27 January 2011
Written questions
House of Lords; Anglian Prince Tugboat
Wednesday, 3 November 2010
Written questions
House of Commons
Subjects: Finance Shipping General Lighthouse Authorities
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk