Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether she plans to establish a registration scheme for UK vessels to provide ring-fenced funds to tackle the issue of abandoned end of life boats.

The Government recognises that end of life recreational vessels are a source of litter and pollution when abandoned and is leading an action in the OSPAR Regional Action Plan on Marine Litter to improve the management of end-of-life recreational vessels. As part of this work, the Government commissioned research on the number of vessels reaching end-of-life across the North East Atlantic area, and on policy options to reduce the issue of marine litter from abandoned vessels. This research is being used to inform the development of best practice guidance.