HC Deb 21 November 1991 vol 199 cc299-301W
Mr. Foulkes

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what information he has about all types of incidents leading to damage or loss of life involving fishing boats and submarines in(a) 1989, (b) 1990 and (c) 1991 to date; and if he has made any arrangements to alter the method of notification of such incidents.

Mr. Archie Hamilton

The information requested for Royal Navy submarines is as follows:

Number of claims and compensation paid
1986
Number of claims 2
Number refuted 2
1987
Number of claims 2
Number refuted 1
Number settled 1
Amount of compensation paid £9,611.00
1988
Number of claims 4
Number refuted 1
Number settled 3
Amount of compensation paid £19,000.00
1989
Number of claims 4
Number refuted 2
Number outstanding 1
Number settled 1
Amount of compensation paid £18,963.41
1990
Number of claims 1
Number outstanding 1

Mr. Foulkes

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what inquiry reports his Department has received from the Marine Accident Investigation Branch since 1979 of losses of, or damage to, fishing vessels; what action has been taken in each case; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Archie Hamilton

The Department currently holds reports of the marine accident investigation branch investigations into incidents between submarines and the fishing vessels Huntress and Scotia. These reports were taken into account when formulating current operating instructions. Reports into incidents involving the fishing vessels Mhari-L, Inspire and Moray Adventurer are also held. There was no Royal Navy involvement in these incidents and therefore no need for any subsequent follow-up action by this Department.

Ms. Walley

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list for each of the last three years the number of occasions the Royal Navy air-sea rescue has been called out to deal with incidents involving fishing vessels at sea; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Archie Hamilton

The following table provides details of call-outs of both Royal Navy and Royal Air Force search-and-rescue helicopters to incidents involving fishing vessels at sea during 1988, 1989, 1990 and to 31 August 1991:

1988 1989 1990 1991
Royal Navy 42 59 47 46
Royal Air Force 179 185 145 81
Total number of people recovered 116 166 114 108

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