CONSERVATIVE PARTY TREASURER AND BELIZE FLAGS OF CONVENIENCE

Motion Text

That this House notes with concern the role played by Mr Michael Ashcroft, the treasurer of the Conservative Party and a major party funder, as the former owner of the Belize register through Belize International Services Ltd; further notes the criticism of such flags of convenience in general and of the lax and negligent supervision of Belize-flagged ships in particular; further notes the tragic sinking of the vessel 'Rema' on 25th April 1998 with the loss of four British seamen; condemns the profiteering of those administering such flags of convenience at the cost of endangering British sailors' lives and rejects Mr Ashcroft's suggestion that he was simply a 'passive' investor in Belize International Services Ltd. and believes anyone in his position must take responsibility for the actions of their companies; expresses its concern that such flags of convenience have in the past been used for drug-running and other illegal activity; and calls on the Right honourable Member for Richmond (Yorks) urgently to refer the case of Mr Ashcroft to his own Ethics and Integrity Committee.