To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the provisions and penalties of boat licensing law are the same throughout the United Kingdom. [HL2545]

Maritime safety, including regulations and the standards for ships, is not a devolved matter and applies equally across the United Kingdom. The Maritime and Coastguard Agency is responsible for the application of requirements and for decisions about enforcement action.

Local acts, private legislation and by-laws govern the use of boats on particular areas of water—for example, ports, lakes, inland waterways and coastal areas. These are a matter for the specific inland navigation authority.