Military Wrecks (Hansard, 29 June 2000)

§ Lord Onslow of Woking
asked Her Majesty's Government:
What applications have been received for the designation of the wreck of a military vessel in United Kingdom waters under the provisions of the Protection of Military Remains Act 1986. [HL2771]

§ Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean
My department has received two applications for designation of military wrecks that lie in UK territorial waters under the provisions of the Protection of Military Remains Act 1986.
They relate to HMS "Royal Oak" and the Submarine H5.

§ Lord Onslow of Woking
asked Her Majesty's Government:
What steps they intend to take to protect the sites of military wrecks in United Kingdom waters where these are known or believed to contain the remains of crew or passengers of the vessel concerned. [HL2772]

§ Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean
The Ministry of Defence, together with other government departments, has been assisting with diving associations' plans for self regulation through the development of a code of practice for diving on wrecks.
The aim of the code is to re-educate divers to adopt best practices when diving on all wrecks. Current training and other publications issued by the diving organisations will be reviewed to take account of the legal and moral responsibilities of those who dive on wrecks. In addition, a new wreck law course is being piloted. Information on "respecting our wrecks" already appears on the diving associations' web sites.
Mechanisms for enforcement of the code of practice and other initiatives, which could result in expulsion from an organisation, are already in place in the associations' constitutions. Any member behaving in a way calculated to be prejudicial to the interests of the club could be expelled. The diving organisations are fully committed to changing the way a small minority abuse the wrecks they dive on.
It is expected that this code will be introduced by the diving associations shortly. The Government will assess compliance with the code and review policy accordingly in the light of subsequent developments.