HC Deb 25 March 1974 vol 871 cc26-7
29. Mr. McNamara

asked the Secretary of State for Trade whether he will examine the Search Indicator Buoy Regulation 1974 of Canada with a view to introducing similar legislation in the United Kingdom.

The Under-Secretary of State for Trade (Mr. Clinton Davis)

A copy of the regulations is being obtained, and I shall write to my hon. Friend as soon as they have been examined. As my hon. Friend will appreciate, my Department keeps the question of all aids to marine safety under constant surveillance.

Mr. McNamara

I am obliged to my hon. Friend for that reply. Will he also undertake to say on behalf of his right hon. Friend that there will be a complete review of all procedures relating not only to the search for lost vessels but to the provision of necessary appliances on the vessels to ensure that they are equipped for searches above and below water?

Mr. Davis

I am obliged to my hon. Friend. As I said in my reply, these matters are kept under constant surveillance and I have no reason to believe that the necessary apparatus invoked from time to time is not fully considered.

Mr. James Johnson

In view of my later Question, may I be allowed to thank the Minister for his expressions of deep sympathy—expressed in a Written Answer last week—to all the dependants and families of the "Gaul" crew who lost their lives in the disaster? In context of the Question, however, is it not a fact that only six months ago the Minister in Canada, Mr. Jack Davis, spoke of legislation on safety at sea and the introduction of an equivalent of the black box used in aeroplanes, and suggested legislation for 1st June this year?

Mr. Davis

I am grateful to my hon. Friend for those remarks and I am glad to seize the opportunity of reiterating my sympathy orally now. I am sure that all hon. Members are deeply disturbed at the tragedy and wish to express their sympathy to the next of kin. On the specific point raised by my hon. Friend, there are real difficulties about the application of the black box because the similarity between occurrences at sea and accidents in the air is rather remote. Aircraft flight recorders owe their existence to the fact that air accidents rarely leave survivors whilst the same is not true of marine accidents.

Later—

Mr. Speaker

Mr. James Johnson. Question No. 32.

Mr. Johnson

In view of your courtesy a few moments ago, Mr. Speaker, and as I was satisfied by what the Minister said, I thank him for his full answer.

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