Chamber of Shipping: Chamber comments on the draft Queen’s speech

The Prime Minister Gordon Brown today announced the Government's legislative programme for the next parliamentary session 2008/09.

In the draft Queen's Speech proposals, the Prime Minister listed a series of Bills of significant interest to the shipping industry:

• Marine and Coastal Access Bill
• Transport Security Bill
• Citizenship, Immigration and Borders Bill

Edmund Brookes, deputy Director-General, UK Chamber of Shipping, said: “The Chamber welcomes the new legislative programme and the central role shipping will have in the next parliamentary session.

“In particular, the Transport Security Bill is long overdue. The Bill will provide the national implementation of measures agreed two years ago by International Maritime Organization. However, the intervening period has allowed for useful additions to be made to clauses, which now clearly empower the Royal Navy to be more effective when dealing with incidents of piracy.

“The Chamber is pleased to see the establishment of a Marine Management Organisation (MMO) in the Marine and Coastal Access Bill. We believe the MMO should have board members with expertise in shipping, ports/harbours, fishing and aggregate extraction. This commercial maritime experience will ensure that the concept of marine spatial planning is properly applied. Furthermore, it is essential that coastal access respects the need for port security to ensure personal and operational safety are maintained.

“The shipping industry’s long-term objective is active partnership with the Government and the Chamber will continue to work closely with its members to ensure the industry stays high on the political agenda.”


ENDS

For further information please contact:
John Stevenson, Chamber of Shipping
020 7417 2833

For more information on British Shipping, please go to: http://www.british-shipping.org

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