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What progress has been made in each of the overseas territories towards the abolition of capital punishment for the offences of treason and piracy. [HL 111]. - Inc ref to White Paper on Overseas Territories.

Asked by

Lord Lester of Herne Hill (Liberal Democrat)

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Date

19 December 2000

Reference

620 c44WA; HL 111

House

House of Lords

Dept of the Environment Transport and the Regions

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, when he expects to establish if ship tracking systems are reliable; what assessment he has made of the effect of such systems on the incidence of piracy; and what action he is taking with the International Maritime...

Asked by

Tam Dalyell (Labour)

Answering body

Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Tabled on

11 October 2000

For answer on

23 October 2000

Answered on

23 October 2000

Mr. Dalyell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he expects to establish if ship tracking systems are reliable; what assessment he has made of the effect of such systems on the incidence of piracy; and what action he is taking with the International Maritime Organisation against piracy and armed robbery in international waters. [134180] Mr. Hill: It is a fact that ship-tracking systems do work and serve their primary purpose of establishing the location of ships at sea using satellite technology. I understand that their widespread use can be taken as a good indicator of their reliability. Although my Department is not directly involved in assessing the effectiveness of such systems we have consulted the International Maritime Bureau (IMB) who have actively promoted use of the tracking system called `Shiploc' as an effective counter piracy measure, particularly in cases where the objective is to steal the ship. This allows shipping companies to monitor their vessels' progress, to know quickly if the ship has a particular difficulty and to track it after an incident. IMB have advised my Department that, in their opinion, the system has deterrent value, although it is difficult to separate the direct benefits of this from those of the other measures which are being implemented to counter the piracy problem. Other ship tracking systems are also available on the market (e.g. Fleet Remote Monitoring System (FROM)). It is not for the Department to promote any individual system, but we ensure that ship owners and operators are made aware of the options in our various contacts with them. Over the past three years my Department has been active in supporting the International Maritime Organisation's (IMO) initiatives in countering the problem of piracy and armed robbery against ships at sea. These initiatives and actions include: In partnership with the FCO, supporting the IMO counter piracy missions across the world with UK experts and finance in acknowledged piracy hotspots. The UK is chairing an IMO Correspondence Group within the Maritime Safety Committee, which has produced an aide memoire on the procedures for the investigation and prosecution of piracy related incidents. The UK initiated work in IMO to ensure that their Ship Registries have proper procedures in place for registration of ships as a means of preventing hijacking of vessels for fraudulent purposes.

Date

23 October 2000

Reference

355 c56-7W; 134180

House

House of Commons

Dept of the Environment Transport and the Regions

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will make a statement on the outcome of the recent United Nations meeting on the oceans. - Includes ref to UN Convention on the Law of the Sea and Chapter 17 of Agenda 21 (Oceans...

Asked by

Stephen Ladyman (Labour)

Answering body

Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Tabled on

7 June 2000

For answer on

8 June 2000

Answered on

8 June 2000

Dr. Ladyman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the outcome of the recent United Nations meeting on the oceans. [125404] Mr. Prescott: The United Nations Informal Consultative Process on Oceans and Law of the Sea met for the first time in New York last week. This is a new initiative to provide a global forum where we can identify ways to improve co-ordination at a national and international level, in order to ensure effective implementation of the framework provided by the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea and Chapter 17 of Agenda 21 (Oceans and All Seas). Participants include states, non-governmental and inter-governmental organisations. The first meeting succeeded in providing a forum both for a general debate on oceans issues and for a more detailed discussion of particular topics. The scope for further action to counter piracy and armed robbery at sea, and improving co-ordination of global oceans management, particularly by making use of the Secretary General's annual report on all aspects of oceans use, were among the issues covered by the general debate. The two issues given special consideration at this meeting were improved fisheries management, particularly to counter the problem of illegal, unregulated and unreported (IUU) fishing, and the economic and social implications of marine pollution. On fisheries, one of the main priorities to emerge was the need for early adoption by the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of an International Action Plan on IUU fishing. There was also support for the newly agreed co-operation between the FAO and the International Maritime Organisation on developing control measures. Regional fisheries organisations were recognised as pivotal instruments through which states can manage particular fisheries, taking account of scientific stock assessments and balancing priorities, including food security and the need for sustainable economic base for fishing communities. On marine pollution, the meeting acknowledged the recent progress that had been made in implementing the 1995 Washington Global Programme of Action to Protect the Marine Environment against Land-Based Activities (GPA), but urged states and inter-governmental agencies to do more in this regard. It was also suggested that the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) might identify what international support is needed to overcome the obstacles to the implementation of the GPA at national and local levels. The need to integrate action on marine pollution and degradation into mainstream investment programmes, as well as the need for capacity building to facilitate the integrated management of the coastal zone, were both highlighted. The report of the meeting will be submitted to this Autumn's UN General Assembly debate on Oceans and Law of the Sea, where I hope it will help produce a focused General Assembly resolution covering the priority areas for action. There will be a further meeting of the new process next year. A number of possible issues for special discussion have already been identified. These include improved development and use of marine science, and capacity building in developing countries. Particularly today, World Oceans Day, I am pleased to confirm that the UK will continue to support and encourage this new informal consultative process. As well as participating in the meeting, this year we helped to shape the agenda and were able to help broaden participation by funding the attendance of a number of experts from developing countries. I hope that others will follow this lead.

Date

8 June 2000

Reference

125404; 351 c316-7W

House

House of Commons

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