Dr. Bennettasked the Secretary of State for Defence why, in view of its danger to navigation, a large unlit mooring buoy has been left in position close to the north side of the Swashway Chan 148W nel over Portsmouth Spit throughout the winter; when it was last used; and for what purpose.
§ Mr. FoleyThis buoy has been in its present position for over ten years. It is the smallest type of Admiralty mooring buoy and is sited 1,300 feet clear of the Swashway transit in a charted depth of 5 feet on the Hamilton Bank. It presents no danger to navigation since it is far from the Channel, sited in shallow water and well known to local users.
Throughout the sailing season the buoy is used frequently by safety boats and committee boats for Service and civilian sailing races. Its last known use was in the Autumn of last year.