§ Lord Hyltonasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they can confirm or deny that 18 trawlers have disappeared in the Irish Sea in the past six years, with the loss of 37 lives; what enquiries have been held in each case; and whether the results have been published.
§ Lord Brabazon of TaraNine United Kingdom fishing vessels have foundered in the Irish Sea in the past six years, with the loss of 16 lives. In each case an inquiry has been undertaken by Department of Transport marine surveyors. It is not at present departmental practice to publish the report of such investigations, though factual statements on some of these incidents have been released to interested parties.
In addition, over the same period, the foundering of two non-United Kingdom fishing vessels in this area with the loss of 10 lives has been reported to the department. In the case of one of these casualties, an investigation was undertaken by the department at the request of the flag state. The loss of the other vessel is being investigated by the flag state. Casualties to vessels not registered in the United Kingdom are not necessarily reported to the department unless they occur within United Kingdom territorial waters.