PARLIAMENTARY EARLY DAY MOTION
CONSERVATIVE PARTY TREASURER AND BELIZE FLAGS OF CONVENIENCE (18 July 1999)

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.

Sponsored by:
Gwyn Prosser (Labour)