§ Mr. Laurance Reedasked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications how many communication cables there are at rest on the British continental shelf; and what steps he has taken to ensure their protection against fishing gear and industrial operations on the sea floor.
§ Mr. ChatawayThere are over 500 British civil submarine communications cables, 70 of which lie in open sea areas. The Post Office carries the primary responsibility for making cables safe from interference as far as possible and for repairing faults.