§ THE EARL OF KINNOULLMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government how many accidents to bathers or water-skiers caused by motor boats have occurred over the last three years and whether they consider the present controls to safeguard bathing areas are satisfactory.
§ LORD WELLS-PESTELLMy Lords, I regret that we have no comprehensive information about the number of such accidents, although we know of three involving bathers during the period in question, two of which were fatal. There is no reason to suppose that the present powers of control available to local authorities are inadequate, but this is one of the matters now under review by the Working Party on Water Safety which was recently set up by my right honourable friend the Home Secretary.
§ THE EARL OF KINNOULLMy Lords, while thanking the noble Lord for that reply, may I ask whether he can say how soon this Working Party will compute its reports and whether its final Report will be published?
§ LORD WELLS-PESTELLMy Lords, up until ten minutes ago I have tried to find out when the Report will be avail able, and I am sorry that I can help neither the noble Lord nor your Lord ships. I cannot say whether publication is imminent, or whether it will take some months to be produced. But I can say that once the Report is in the hands of my right honourable friend it will be published.
§ THE EARL OF KINNOULLMy Lords, can the noble Lord advise the House how local authorities can help bathers and water-skiers? Is there, for instance, a code of safety issued by the Department to local authorities?
§ LORD WELLS-PESTELLYes, my Lords: a guide was produced which gives statutory rights to local authorities to determine speeds, and even to mark out areas where speedboats cannot operate.
LORD HAWKEMy Lords, the noble Lord mentioned three cases about which he knows. Does he know the number of fatal accidents which have befallen ordinary swimmers who have not been interfered with by these water-skiers?
§ LORD WELLS-PESTELLMy Lords, I understand that about 700 people are drowned accidentally each year in Great Britain. About 75 per cent. of these deaths occur in inland waters; the remaining 25 per cent. occur on the coast.