HC Deb 20 November 1997 vol 301 cc295-6W
Mr. Alan Johnson

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what reports have been received by his Department from(a) crew of the fishing protection frigate Mohawk, (b) trawler skippers and (c) others concerning the location of The Gaul since The Gaul disappeared. [16684]

Ms Glenda Jackson

Existing Departmental records contain one report from HMS Mohawk dealing with her involvement with the search and rescue operation conducted following the disappearance of The Gaul. Seven reports on possible locations of the wreck were received from fishing vessel skippers and six from other sources. The positions given varied widely.

Mr. Alan Johnson

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what estimates were made of the cost of searching for The Gaul, following its disappearance; and for what reasons no search was made. [16685]

Ms Glenda Jackson

Following the loss of The Gaul, the Department of Trade, which was then responsible for marine safety, considered a number of proposals for searching for the wreck. Proposals from the Royal Navy and commercial sources were discussed, but were not pursued as it was decided then that the considerable cost of each proposal could not be justified.

Departmental records show that the lack of a positively identified search area was an important factor in these decisions. It is important to consider that mid-1970s technology was less able than the technology available today to make positive identifications of underwater objects from the surface.

Mr. Alan Johnson

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what arrangements are being made to survey The Gaul following discovery of the wreck; [16686]

(2) if he plans to reopen the formal investigation into the circumstances of the loss of The Gaul. [16687]

Ms Glenda Jackson

The Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) has obtained from Channel 4 copies of the material obtained during its photographic survey of the ship. This material has to be considered by the MAIB before any recommendation to the Secretary of State can be made on whether further action is appropriate.

Under the provisions of the Merchant Shipping Act 1995, the Secretary of State shall reopen the formal investigation into the causes of this tragic loss if the material contains new and important evidence. We await the MAIB' s recommendations on the new material before any decision can be made on whether or not the formal investigation into the case should be reopened.