§ Mr. FlynnTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will arrange a trial of the dryshod evacuation of(a) 500, (b) 1,000 and (c) 2,000 passengers from roll on/roll off ferries. [24484]
§ Mr. Norris[holding reply 16 May 1995]: This is an operational matter for the Coastguard Agency. I have asked the chief executive to write to the hon. Member.
Letter from C. J. Harris to Mr. Paul Flynn, dated 17 May 1995:
The Secretary of State for Transport has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question as the question deals with an operational matter, for which I have responsibility as Chief Executive.HM Coastguard carries out regular ferry exercises. These exercises normally involve the evacuation of large numbers of passengers and crew and their succour ashore.Nine such exercises have taken place in the last two years. Further exercises are planned this year, but none of them involve more than 500 "passengers".I am considering whether the plans for exercises in future years could include one involving larger numbers of passengers.