HC Deb 18 January 1988 vol 145 cc189-90W
Mr. Nicholas Bennett

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many accidents involving(a) motorboats and (b) yachts were reported in British territorial waters in each of the past five years; and how many instances in each year were fatal.

Mr. Portillo

Records kept by Her Majesty's coastguard classify such incidents under the headings of(a) powered pleasure craft and (b) sailing craft. The totals below reflect incidents occurring within the United Kingdom search and rescue region for the last five years for which information is available.

Number of incidents Lives lost
1983
Powered pleasure craft 621 9
Sailing craft 774 5
1984
Powered pleasure craft 579 9
Sailing craft 551 23
1985
Powered pleasure craft 659 18
Sailing craft 720 9
1986
Powered pleasure craft 722 27
Sailing craft 710 7
1987
Powered pleasure craft 738 15
Sailing craft 686 2