Circulation
List attached
Rawer to me
by
Mr. Donele; Dof Tr. a 9/2
Enter
Mr. Mom's HKD.FC
for information. Please note it has not yet been released.
+1912
MERCHANT SHIPPING BILL: CONSULTATIVE DOCUMENT ON REGISTRATION
OF SHIPS AND MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
1. I attach a copy of the Consultative document I propose to submit to our Parliamentary Under Secretary Mr Mitchell for approval before publication. It seems likely now that we will get a place in the 1984/85 legislative programme and our time- table is therefore very tight. We propose to allow only one month for consultation, bearing in mind that a good deal of consultation has already been carried out with the industry in the previous round in 1981/82, with the Dependent Territories and Commonwealth countries during the last two years, and internally in Whitehall in recent months. When the consultations have been completed, we propose to seek collective policy approval: from Ministers in April at the latest to allow sufficient time for drafting the Bill.
2. I should be grateful if recipients would let me know, by Tuesday 14 February at the latest whether they are content with the consultative document. Please bear in mind that it is only a consultative document and that the detailed proposals could be modified if necessary at a later stage. In drafting the document we have taken account of the views and suggestions of Government Departments (for which we are grateful) as regards both content and presentation. I think what we should be concerned with now is whether the proposals are broadly acceptable as they stand and whether they have been satisfactorily presented from the point of view of our respective "customers".
3. Parts III, VI and VII will be of particular interest to the FCO and Home Office; Parts IV and V to MAFF and Customs and Excise. I would be grateful if Mr Henes, Mr Fielder and Mr Lambert could confirm that they are content with the proposal that company- owned ships should be registered in the territory in which the company is incorporated and has its principal place of business.
4.
Finally, I would be grateful if recipients in Marine Directorate could check Part VIII (Miscellaneous Provisions) to ensure that the descriptions are correct and presentable.
Worch
I C DOUEK
MAR 1
Room 3/2 Sunley House
405 6911 x 461
9 February 1984