asked the Secretary of State for Transport whether he will list information available to him on which maritime member states of the European Community charge users light dues; and, in each case, to which categories of users the charge applies.
Within the EC member states light dues are charged in Greece, the Republic of Ireland and the United Kingdom. I have no information about the scope of the charges in Greece, but in the Republic of Ireland I understand they are levied on the same categories of use as in the United Kingdom, although the rates may differ from time to time. The categories of use that are subject to charges in the United Kingdom at present are set out in the Merchant Shipping (Light Dues) Regulations 1981: I have laid a copy in the Library. My right hon. Friend announced on 5 February that he was considering extending light dues liability to the larger fishing vessels.