Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport,what the status is of the Equivalence Rules contained within the 1992 Construction and Use Regulations which allow older passenger boats in the UK to continue to operate for their entire working lives while improving on board safety provisions.

The Merchant Shipping (Passenger Ship Construction and Survey) (Amendment) Regulations 1992 (SI 1992/2358) and the Merchant Shipping (Fire Protection) (Amendment) Regulations 1992 (SI 1992/2360) are no longer extant.

The applicable legislation for domestic passenger ships is:

1. The Merchant Shipping (Passenger Ship Construction: Ships of Classes III to VI(A)) Regulations 1998 (as amended) (SI 1998 No. 2515) (exemption provision Regulation 4);

2. The Merchant Shipping (Life-Saving Appliances for Passenger Ships of Classes III To VI(A)) Regulations 1999 (as amended) (SI 1999 No. 2723) (exemption provision Regulation 4); and

3. The Merchant Shipping (Fire Protection: Small Ships) Regulations 1998 (as amended) (SI 1998 No. 1011) (exemption provision Regulation 47).

While the equivalence provisions in those regulations are open-ended it is normal to review regulatory provisions from time to time to ensure they remain fit for purpose and where necessary make changes. There are no merchant shipping regulations which purport to guarantee that the same standards will apply in perpetuity.