HC Deb 04 April 1962 vol 657 cc456-8
37. Mr. P. Browne

asked the Minister of Transport if he will ask for reports from coastguards stationed on the Atlantic coast of Devon and Cornwall as to the number of distress signals and requests for assistance received by them, during gale conditions of force 8 winds and above, during the past six months and on the action taken to meet such requests, including calls for help sent to lifeboat stations.

The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Transport (Vice-Admiral John Hughes Hallett)

There were four such occasions. Lifeboats were launched in three cases, but the ships were able to proceed without help. In the fourth, a tug was sent out to tow a vessel with engine trouble. There were also six occasions in the period when the Coastguard were asked for information about vessels overdue.

Mr. Browne

While thanking my hon. Friend for that Answer, may I ask whether he is aware that we have some good and powerful and very well-manned lifeboats on the West Coast, particularly, at Padstow and Appledore? Is he aware that there is difficulty in that these boats are unable to get across the bars at very low water in gale-force conditions? Does he not think that it would be a good plan for his Department to look at the possibility of building some sort of harbour which would shelter a large boat, an additional boat for life-saving, in this part of the world?

Vice-Admiral Hughes Hallett

That supplementary question anticipates the next Question but one on the Order Paper. But I would point out that my right hon. Friend has no request of this nature before him at present from the Royal National Life-boat Institution.

39. Mr. Scott-Hopkins

asked the Minister of Transport if he will ask for reports from coastguards stationed on the Atlantic coast of Cornwall as to the number of distress signals and requests for assistance received by them during gale conditions of force eight winds and above during the past six months, and on the action taken to meet such requests including calls for help sent to lifeboat stations.

Vice-Admiral Hughes Hallett

I should have stated that I was answering this Question with Question No. 37. The Answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Cornwall, North (Mr. Scott-Hopkins) is the same.

Mr. Scott-Hopkins

Is my hon. and gallant Friend aware, following the answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Torrington (Mr. P. Browne), that the position on the Cornish coast is similar to that in North Devon, in that at low water and high gales there is no way by which lifeboats can get in? Is he satisfied with this situation? What steps is he prepared to take, or is the Life-boat Institution taking, to do something about it?

Vice-Admiral Hughes Hallett

I can only repeat that there is no outstanding request for facilities of this nature from the Royal Life-boat Institution. Such requests would come to my right hon. Friend as they would have to seek his permission for improvements.

Mr. Scott-Hopkins

Is there on the whole of the North Atlantic coast in Cornwall a harbour into which a boat can get in rough weather? Has my hon. Friend asked whether the Life-boat Institution is happy about it?

Vice-Admiral Hughes Hallett

I have no reason to think that the Lifeboat Institution is not happy about it. We have had no request of this nature. I should not like to answer that question in detail without notice.

Mr. G. R. Howard

Is my hon. Friend aware that the Life-boat Institution has had this matter very much in mind for some time past, especially in view of the silting up of the Padstow Harbour, and that we are making prolonged research into the possibility of building a new lifeboat station, but I am sure that my hon. and gallant Friend agrees that we cannot say anything about this until we have made exhaustive inquiries into whether the site which we propose is the right one?

Vice-Admiral Hughes Hallett

Yes, Sir. We are well aware of that.

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