MOTOR VESSEL "ENTERPRISE" (Hansard, 7 March 1978)

§ The Under-Secretary of State for Trade (Mr. Clinton Davis)
The "Enterprise" sailed from Fraserburgh and was known to be fishing the waters east of Shetland. Her last known position was at 21.30 hours on 23rd February when she was approximately 90 miles east of Lerwick and was in radio contact with the trawler "Grampian Castle". Weather conditions in the area at that time were known to be extremely severe. The Coastguard was not informed about any anxiety concerning the vessel until 15.45 hours on 28th February. Inquiries were put in hand forthwith and a broadcast to shipping was made accompanied by a request for an air search to be undertaken at first light.
At the earliest opportunity a Royal Air Force Nimrod reconnaissance aircraft began a search. In addition HMS "Orkney", a Royal Navy offshore protection ship, and subsequently a number of fishing vessels, also carried out a search of the area in which it was thought the "Enterprise" might be located. Despite this, nothing was found and the search was discontinued at last light on 2nd March.
A preliminary inquiry was ordered on 1st March.
I am sure that the House would wish to join with me in expressing deepest sympathy with the families of the crew of the "Enterprise".

§ Mr. Henderson
Is the Minister aware that my constituents will appreciate that message of sympathy? Is he also aware that the relatives of crew men whom I visited at the weekend expressed their deep appreciation of the dedicated work carried out by the rescue services, co-ordinated by Her Majesty's Coastguard at Wick, and of those who volunteered in the search? In the light of this appalling tragedy, will he consider inviting the industry to consider yet again the system of position reporting so that as far as possible every precaution is taken to ensure that Coastguard knows where boats are at all times? Indeed, will he consider that matter now?

§ Mr. Davis
I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for paying tribute to the work 1225 of the rescue services, a tribute that is justly deserved.
In regard to vessel reporting arrangements, I would inform the House that at a meeting in June 1977 the Scottish Fishermen's Federation reviewed the reporting arrangements then in force for vessels fishing on more distant grounds. Unfortunately, despite the efforts made by the Coastguard to try to enforce the situation voluntarily, there has been a reluctance—I think unwisely—by fishermen to disclose their fishing whereabouts. Despite that factor, a modified system was introduced, because the original system was not being adhered to, whereby vessels would report whenever in difficulty or danger or if there were cause for anxiety in respect of the safety of any other vessel. This matter will have to be pursued in the preliminary inquiry that is being undertaken.

§ Mr. James Johnson
Since we suffered the loss of "Gaul" four years ago, may I on behalf of Humberside extend to my Scottish colleagues our sympathy in this grievous loss. May I ask the Minister about the IMCO safety regulations? Norway, Australia and the United States make it mandatory to carry electronic position-indicating radio beacons. Is it not correct that the Norwegians, who fish in similar waters to those fished by our vessels in the North Arctic, are equipped with radio beacons? If that is the case, will my hon. Friend say what Her Majesty's Government are doing on these lines?

§ Mr. Davis
As my hon. Friend knows, the Government have been pursuing inquiries into these matters with diligence. But up to the present time no fully satisfactory advice has been obtained, and on that basis it would be impossible to impose a mandatory requirement. But I am requesting very strongly indeed that the Fishing Industry Safety Group, which I set up not so long ago, should investigate this matter, among others, at its meeting in May.

§ Mr. Teddy Taylor
Is the Minister aware that Conservative Members wish to express our sympathy at the tragic loss of life in this disaster? He will also be well aware that many of these fishermen have left young families. Although loss of life cannot be avoided in such dangerous employment, does he not agree that this 1226 great tragedy should give us new resolve to take every possible step to minimise the dangers? Is he willing to review the findings of the Holland Martin Report which followed a similar tragedy? Will he accept the advice of the hon. Member for Aberdeenshire, East (Mr. Henderson) and initiate fresh discussions with the industry in Scotland and with the GPO about the possibility of arriving at an effective and acceptable system of position reporting, which works effectively in some areas of the United Kingdom but not in others?

§ Mr. Davis
I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for joining in the condolences to the relatives and friends who have suffered this appalling bereavement. This matter cannot be applied only to Scotland. Whatever the tragic circumstances, we have to examine the general position. This points to the essential need for the implementation of the fishing vessel safety rules—rules which were introduced but which, I regret, met with considerable opposition within the industry. We have done our best in introducing those rules to try to enjoin the full support of the industry. A precondition of their application was the establishment of the Fishing Industry Safety Group. I am confident that at its next meeting that group will consider the comments made in this discussion.

§ Mr. Speaker
This is a Private Notice Question. I shall call the right hon. Member for Orkney and Shetland (Mr. Grimond) and the other two hon. Members who rose earlier.

§ Mr. Grimond
May I join in the expressions of deep regret over this tragedy, which has been a disaster not only for the relatives concerned but for the whole town of Fraserburgh? Will the Minister ensure that the question of adequacy of the radio links round the coast is examined because there has been some anxiety on this score on the part of fishermen in many parts of Scotland.

§ Mr. Davis
I do not think it is so much a question of the adequacy of the radio links round the coast as of the reluctance of fishermen to disclose their fishing positions. I hope that the impact of this 1227 tragedy will emphasise to them the importance of ensuring that there is radio contact, so that similar situations are made clear to the Coastguard at the earliest opportunity.

§ Mr. Buchan
May I on behalf of Labour Back Benchers express sympathy with the bereaved relatives? I was in Fraserburgh last week and I know the deep shadow that this tragedy cast over the whole community, an area with which I am closely connected. I agree with the Minister that it is not only the technological aspect that needs to be strengthened, although steps may have to be taken in that regard. I wish to ask whether the Minister will have an early meeting with the fishermen and their association. Safety must be a priority and must be taken against all the other attitudes taken by the fishermen. However, perhaps in view of what has happened, safety will be regarded as the first priority in similar circumstances.

§ Mr. Davis
I am grateful to my hon. Friend for those remarks. It is so often the case that when a tragedy happens the House and the industry become truly alerted to the dangers and difficulties, but those anxieties seem to be dispelled with time. It is the fatalities that occur to fishermen that appear to be paramount in our consideration. I hope that the lesson of this appalling tragedy will be learned by the industry and everybody concerned with fishing.

§ Mr. Watt
I appreciate that no amount of legislation could avert a danger such as this, but does the Minister not agree that there was an undue length of time before a search was initiated? Should it not be up to the fishing office through which the boat operates to ensure that each vessel reports at least once in every 24 hours?

§ Mr. Davis
I do not accept the hon. Gentleman's remarkable criticism of the search and rescue services. Indeed, it was not for some considerable time that the owners reported any anxiety about this vessel at all. If what the Department of Trade has been recommending for a very long time had been implemented, there can be no doubt that this matter would have been reported to the Coastguard very much earlier. I hope, as I have said before, that the full lessons will be learned fol- 1228 lowing the preliminary inquiry and possibly a formal inquiry which will follow that.