BRITISH SHIPPING-CHARTING A NEW COURSE

Early day motion 268, tabled 3 February 1999 by Gwyn Prosser (Labour). Signed by 99 members.

That this House welcomes the publication of the DETR Paper 'British Shipping-Charting A New Course'; notes with concern the decline that UK merchant shipping has experienced in recent years; including steep reductions in the number of UK flagged ships and a decline in the pool of British seafarers; recognises the particular importance of shipping both for trade and national security and that shipping is an expanding global business; endorses the paper's emphasis on increasing skills, encouraging employment, and increasing the United Kingdom's attractiveness to shipping enterprises, including maritime London; urges the Government to build on the 33 policy measures mapped out in the paper to secure a strong future for this vital national asset and to continue the partnership between Government, shipping companies and the maritime trade unions; further notes that an appropriate fiscal environment is a key element in retaining a significant shipping sector; and calls on the Government to discuss fiscal options with the United Kingdom shipping industry in the pre-Budget consultation, including a full consideration of tonnage-based systems of corporation tax.

Signatures by party: Labour 66, Conservative 10, Liberal Democrat 9, Labour/Co-operative 4, Plaid Cymru 4, UUP 3, DUP 1, Scottish National Party 1, UKUP 1.