To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what penalties and restrictions apply to the use of alcohol by river users on the Thames; and what plans he has to review these arrangements. [79703]

Under existing Port of London Authority byelaws, which regulate operational matters on the River Thames, it is an offence for the master of a vessel to navigate, or be in charge of a vessel when unfit by reason of drink. If a harbourmaster has reasonable cause to suspect that a master's fitness to navigate the vessel is impaired through alcohol, he may direct the vessel to stop or to a designated berth in order to carry out a breath test. The limit is 35 microgrammes of alcohol