The Northern Lighthouse Board, together with Trinity House (England, Wales and the Channel Isles) and the Commissioners of Irish Lights (Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland) are the General Lighthouse Authorities for the United Kingdom and Ireland. Running costs are met from a "General Lighthouse Fund", financed by the collection of Light Dues paid by commercial ships calling at British and Irish ports, and by fishing vessels 10 metres and over in length. The fund, administered by the Department for Transport, is entirely self-financing, and receives no grant from the Exchequer. The powers and duties of the General Lighthouse Authorities are laid down in the Merchant Shipping Act of 1995.

WRITTEN STATEMENT BY JIM FITZPATRICK MP PARLIAMENTARY UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE
LIGHT DUES 2008/09
I am pleased to announce that light dues rates and the tonnage threshold will remain the same for 2008/09. As a result of continuing efficiency gains made by the General Lighthouse Authorities we were able to cut dues by 10% in 2006, which we held down at that level in 2007 and now will hold again in 2008. We shall continue to work closely with the GLAs to streamline and improve services further to reduce costs where we can, while maintaining prudent funding to meet their liabilities and high standards of safety. I also welcome the publication of the Irish Lights Evidence Study today. The Study sets out evidence on the funding of the provision of aids to navigation in the Republic of Ireland. It will provide the basis for negotiations between the UK and Irish Governments to find a long term funding solution for the Commissioners of Irish Lights.

LIGHT DUES 2007/08
The Minister of State, Department for Transport (Dr Stephen Ladyman) announced on Monday 19 March 2007.
"I am pleased to announce that light dues rates and the tonnage threshold will remain the same for 2007/08. It is a tribute to the continuing efficiency gains of the GLA that rates have not increased in 14 years.

Last year light dues were cut by 4p per ton representing a 10% reduction. I welcomed the industry's assurance at that time that they accepted rates could rise in the future should the General Lighthouse Fund not be able to meet the cost of essential major capital projects.

It is a significant achievement that two major projects are well underway - the redevelopment of the Commissioners of Irish Lights depot at Dun Laoghaire and the brand new GLA ships that will come into service later this year. These ongoing improvements will continue to ensure that the GLA provide the best possible service to merchant ships in UK and Irish coastal waters."

2006
GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCES A CUT IN LIGHT DUES
Shipping Minister Stephen Ladyman announced today that light dues paid by merchant ships for aids to navigation in UK waters will be reduced from 39p to 35p per tonne in 2006/07.

The tonnage cap will remain the same at 35,000 tonnes making the maximum charge for light dues £12,250 per voyage. The need to record the departure dates of vessels for collection purposes will be removed and so will the exemption from payment of light dues for vessels calling at a port in ballast. This will simplify the collection process.

Light dues are a system of charges levied on commercial shipping calling at all UK and Republic of Ireland Ports. In the UK, the provision and maintenance of aids to navigation - such as lighthouses, buoys and beacons - falls to the three General Lighthouse Authorities (Trinity House Lighthouse Service, the Northern Lighthouse Board and the Commissioners of Irish Lights). Their costs are funded from the collection of these charges.

Commenting on the new lower charges, Dr Ladyman said:

"The Government remains committed to the present system of recovering costs but is determined to minimise the cost burden on the shipping industry. The rate per tonne has fallen repeatedly since its 1993 peak of 43p. The reduction I am announcing today means a further fall of 10.2%.

This is a remarkable achievement during a period of major capital investment by the General Lighthouse Authorities and against a background of general inflation. I pay full credit to the Authorities for their commitment to an efficient and cost effective service providing aids to navigation.

The strong performance of the underlying General Lighthouse Fund in the past year makes a cut on this scale possible. The cut returns to light dues payers the benefit of growth in the Fund, for as long as this proves possible."

Dr Ladyman added:

"This is excellent news for all merchant ships. I welcome the assurance of the Lights Advisory Committee, who represent the shipping industry, ports and cargo interests, that they are prepared to support a rise in light dues rates should this become necessary at some future date."

2005
GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCES LIGHT DUES AND TONNAGE THRESHOLD FROZEN AT 2004 LEVELS
There will be no increase this year in light dues paid by merchant ships and fishing vessels, Shipping Minister David Jamieson announced today. The tonnage threshold of 35,000 tonnes, will also remain the same.

Light dues are a system of user charges levied on commercial shipping calling at all UK and Republic of Ireland ports. In the UK, the provision and maintenance of aids to navigation - such as lighthouses, buoys and beacons - falls to Trinity House Lighthouse Service, the Northern Lighthouse Board and the Commissioners of Irish Lights. Their costs are funded from the collection of these charges.

Commenting on the charges, the Shipping Minister, Mr Jamieson said:
" I am pleased that light dues rates and the tonnage threshold will remain the same for 2005/06. It is a remarkable achievement that rates have not increased since 1993, during which period cost levels generally have risen 30%. This is particularly true now, at a time when the General Lighthouse Authorities have undertaken a programme of major capital investment - the redevelopment of the Trinity House Lighthouse Service depot at Harwich and the replacement of GLA ships. These are projects that will be funded out of the General Lighthouse Fund.
" We shall continue to work closely with the General Lighthouse Authorities to maximise efficiency where we can and to ensure that the benefits that have been achieved are returned to light dues payers".

2004
GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCES A CUT IN LIGHT DUES AND TONNAGE CEILING
Light dues paid by merchant ships for aids to navigation in UK waters will be reduced from 40p to 39p per ton in 2004/05 the Department for Transport announced today. A reduction in the tonnage cap from 40,000 tons to 35,000 tons was also announced.

Light dues are a system of user charges levied on commercial shipping calling at all UK and Republic of Ireland Ports. In the UK, the provision and maintenance of aids to navigation - such as lighthouses, buoys and beacons - falls to Trinity House Lighthouse Service, the Northern Lighthouse Board and the Commissioners of Irish Lights. Their costs are funded from the collection of these charges.

Commenting on the new lower charges, Shipping Minister David Jamieson said:
" This is good news for all merchant ships. I am particularly pleased that the light dues rates and the tonnage cap will be reduced for 2004/05. Much of the credit for being able to sustain these charges must go to the General Lighthouse Authorities - Trinity House Lighthouse Service. the Northern Lighthouse Board and the Commissioners of Irish Lights - that continue to maintain high standards while keeping costs down".
He added:
" The final report of the Economic Study of the Impact of Light Dues is nearing completion. The consultants, MDS Transmodal and DTZ Pieda, have undertaken a wide-ranging review of statistical and economic evidence and interviewed a number of interests. The completion of the report has been put back to take account of suggestions and information received from industry representatives. We now expect the report to be published in the next few weeks. An announcement concerning the government's reaction to the report and proposed next steps will be made after we have fully considered the report and heard the views of stakeholders."

2003
JAMIESON FREEZES LIGHT DUES AT 2002 LEVELS

There will be no increase this year in light dues paid by merchant ships and fishing vessels, Shipping Minister David Jamieson announced today.

Light dues are a system of user charges levied on commercial shipping calling at all UK and Republic of Ireland Ports. In the UK, the provision and maintenance of aids to navigation - such as lighthouses, buoys and beacons - falls to Trinity House Lighthouse Service, the Northern Lighthouse Board and the Commissioners of Irish Lights. Their costs are funded from the collection of these charges.

Commenting on the charges, the Shipping Minister, Mr Jamieson said:

"I am pleased that the light dues rates will remain the same for 2003/2004. The General Lighthouse Authorities deserve credit for their efforts in trying to maximise efficiency while keeping costs down. We shall continue to work closely with the General Lighthouse Authorities to secure cost effective provision of GLA services and to keep future requirements for marine aids to navigation under review."

Further information about the General Lighthouse Authorities may be viewed free of charge on the HMSO website, www.hmso.gov.uk. Printed copies are available to order, on payment of the appropriate costs, from the Stationery Office website, www.tso.co.uk/bookshop and TSO shops in cities and major towns across the UK.

Among the information published by TSO are
· The General Lighthouse Fund Report and Accounts
· The Merchant Shipping Act 1995
· The Merchant Shipping Act (Light Dues) Regulations 1997