§ Mr. LoydenTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport for what reasons his Department has declined to form a formal partnership with the technical advisers to the Derbyshire Families Association. [28161]
§ Mr. NorrisWe are considering the Derbyshire Family Association's—DFA—written request, received on 30 April, that the Department should form a formal partnership with the technical advisers to the DFA. When considering the DFA's request, we will have regard to a number of issues, including the reasons for mounting the return expedition and the position of other parties with a legitimate interest in the return.
§ Mr. LoydenTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the cost of engaging technical experts to take part in the second survey of the MV Derbyshire wreckage field. [28162]
§ Mr. NorrisThe independent technical assessors appointed to oversee the return expedition have to undertake a range of tasks including the planning and supervision of the return, assessment of the data obtained on site and completion of their report for submission to Ministers and the European Commission. The cost of engaging the assessors will depend on the amount of work they will have to do, including the time needed to assess and report on the data collected. No accurate assessment of the likely costs can yet be made.