HC Deb 14 December 1972 vol 848 cc613-4
34. Mr. Milne

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what response he has received from local authorities and harbour authorities in regard to Home Office Circular No. 178/1972, about the scheme for marking bathing areas.

The Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department (Mr. David Lane)

Except that one local authority doubts the need for top markings on the buoys and two others prefer their own arrangements, I have no reason to think that the scheme is not acceptable to local authorities and harbour authorities generally.

Mr. Milne

May I express my gratitude to the Home Office for the circular, particularly on behalf of the coastal authorities in my constituency? It is an excellent contribution to safety in bathing areas and should be followed up, because more and more people are taking advantage of leisure opportunities, and the protection given by the marking buoys will prevent many disasters at the seaside in the coming season.

Mr. Lane

I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for what he says. It is a serious situation when nearly 200 people a year are drowned along our coasts. I am glad to hear what the hon. Gentleman says about his own local authority. I hope that other local authorities will bear in mind the powers they already have and take further action in this direction.

35. Mr. Milne

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what replies he has given to the requests of the National Water Safety Committee and the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents for the setting up of an independent commission on water safety; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Lane

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave on 6th December to a similar Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Bournemouth, East and Christchurch (Mr. Cordle).—[Vol. 847, c. 440.]

Mr. Milne

Is the Minister aware that this matter follows on from my previous Question, and is ancillary to it? Safety in bathing areas on sea coasts and in harbour areas is vital. Once again, we congratulate the Department on the attitude that it has taken in the matter. Will it continue to press local authorities and see that the commission for which we are asking is brought into being?

Mr. Lane

The matter is urgent and important. The proposal for the commission was made only at the end of July. We have been consulting a number of the bodies concerned. We have nearly finished our consultations, and I hope that my right hon. Friend will be able to take a decision very soon.