§ Mr. CouchmanTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many fishing vessles of more than 12 m registered length have been inspected by his Department to ensure that they carry an emergency position indicating radio beacon; what proportion of those British vessels eligible to carry emergency position indicating radio beacons this represents; and how many were found to be deficient.
§ Mr. PortilloThe information is not available in the form requested. However, from registration records kept, 603 fishing vessels have been equipped with operating on 406 MHz but this does not include approved beacons operating on 121.5 MHz which will continue to be accepted until 1992 if they were installed before the requirements came into force. Some 1,950 fishing vessels will be required to carry these devices by 15 January 1989.