Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the impact assessment conducted by the Marine and Coastguard Agency Bringing Safety Requirements in key areas on all Passenger Vessels on Domestic Voyages in line with modern Technical Standards (IADfT00400), dated 13 July 2018, why they have not provided comment on whether the implementation of revised standards for old and new vessels goes beyond minimum EU standards; and whether they intend to provide a comparison with EU standards.

The technical standards for seagoing passenger ships constructed of steel or equivalent materials are contained within EU Directive 2009/45 (as amended by 2010/36 and 206/844).

Seagoing passenger vessels which are certified against this Directive are not in scope of the proposed regulatory changes that are the subject of IA DfT00400. These vessels will remain under the requirements of the Directive and will not be affected by the outcome of the ongoing consultation.

The seagoing passenger vessels in scope of the proposed regulatory changes, that are the subject of IA DfT00400, are not constructed of steel or aluminium. These vessels are not within scope of the EU Directive, as such the consultation impact assessment, IA DfT00400, does not include a comparison between the proposed revised standards and minimum EU standards.