HC Deb 10 July 1969 vol 786 cc297-9W
68. Mr. Hector Hughes

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will state the numbers and ages of persons accidentally drowned in British rivers, ponds and seasides during each of the last five years; and what steps he has taken to avoid or minimise these drowning accidents.

TABLE A
ACCIDENTAL DEATHS BY DROWNING IN GREAT BRITAIN 1964–1968
Place of Occurrence
0–4 5–14 15–14 45–64 65 + Total
M F M F M F M F M F M F
1964
1. Submersion with small boat … 1 — 14 3 59 1 9 1 3 — 86 5
2. Mines and quarries … … — — 3 — 2 — 1 — 1 — 7 —
3. Places designed for recreation and sport 1 1 12 1 11 1 3 — 1 — 28 3
4. Other specified places (Beaches, rivers, ponds, etc.) 58 23 144 16 213 23 148 46 109 43 672 151
5. Other places outside the home 8 1 2 — 8 — 18 1 3 1 39 3
6. Home premises … … 17 15 1 1 4 8 6 17 4 20 32 61
TOTALS … … 85 40 176 21 297 33 185 65 124 64 864 222
COMBINED TOTAL … … 1,086
1965
1. Submersion with small boat … — — 9 3 59 5 12 1 3 — 83 9
2. Mines and quarries … … 1 — 2 — 1 — — — — — 4 —
3. Places designed for recreation and sport — — 7 2 8 — — — — 1 15 3
4. Other specfied places (Beaches, rivers, ponds etc.) 71 9 133 19 186 23 151 37 72 32 613 120
5. Other places outside the home … 9 2 8 1 7 1 7 1 6 4 37 9
6. Home premises … … 9 13 2 1 3 5 6 8 7 18 27 45
TOTALS … … 90 24 161 26 264 34 176 47 88 55 779 186
COMBINED TOTAL … … 965
1966
1. Submersion with small boat … — — 11 1 61 2 11 1 — 2 83 6
2. Mines and quarries … … 1 — 10 — 5 1 — — — — 16 1
3. Places designed for recreation and sport 3 1 8 1 16 — 1 — 1 — 29 2
4. Other specified places (Beaches rivers, ponds etc.) 64 19 127 19 220 29 131 51 102 44 644 162
5. Other places outside the home. … 11 3 12 1 18 1 25 4 13 4 79 13
6. Home premises … … 21 13 2 — 3 6 8 12 11 13 45 44
TOTALS … … 100 36 170 22 323 39 176 68 127 63 896 228
COMBINED TOTAL … … 1,124
1967
1. Submersion with small boat … 3 — 14 6 56 1 10 — 4 — 87 7
2. Mines and quarries … … — — 7 2 2 — 3 — 3 — 15 2
3. Places designed for recreation and sport 5 1 13 1 20 — 2 — — 1 40 3
4. Other specified places (beaches, rivers, ponds etc.) 47 16 120 26 215 22 130 40 88 41 600 145
5. Other places … … 4 2 10 1 22 — 17 5 11 1 64 9
6. Home premises … … 15 6 — 1 8 1 7 10 5 17 35 35
TOTALS … … 74 25 164 37 323 24 169 55 111 60 841 201
COMBINED TOTAL … … 1,042

Mr. Merlyn Rees

I am circulating such information as is available. The prevention of drowning accidents is chiefly a matter for the local authorities, who have powers to mark dangerous places, to provide or require the provision of appropriate safeguards, whether for bathers or others, and to provide education in water safety generally. The Home Office makes a grant to the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents on account of its water safety activities and produces publicity material of its own.

0–4 5–14 15–4 45–64 65 + Total
Place of Occurrence
M F M F M F M F M F M F
1968
1. Submersion with small boat … 1 1 13 2 45 5 16 2 1 — 76 10
Other drownings … … 79 43 132 17 234 30 158 62 111 64 714 216
TOTALS … … 80 44 145 19 279 35 174 64 112 64 790 226
COMBINED TOTAL … … 1,016

Notes:

1. Places designed for recreation and sport are not identified separately in Scotland and are included with "other specified places" in the tables for 1964–1967.

2. The figures in the table for 1968 are provisional.

3. The tables include occupants of small boats, but exclude other water transport accidents.

TABLE B
APPROXIMATE DISTRIBUTION OF DROWNINGS IN "OTHER SPECIFIED PLACES" BETWEEN COASTAL AND INLAND WATERS, ENGLAND AND WALES, 1965–1967
0–4 5–14 15–44 45–64 65+ Total
Year Coastal Inland Coastal Inland Coastal Inland Coastal Inland Coastal Inland Coastal Inland
1965 … 3 65 20 103 48 115 25 118 12 79 108 480
1966 … 6 64 31 87 55 126 22 113 21 95 135 485
1967 … 3 50 28 87 55 131 28 107 11 92 125 467

69. Mr. Hector Hughes

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will, in the public interest, request the British Broadcasting Corporation and the Independent Television Authority to display pictures and warnings of the dangers to which non-swimers and weak swimmers expose themselves by disregarding the warnings of public authorities in control of ponds and seashores.

Mr. Merlyn Rees

Short films dealing with these and other aspects of water safety have been given over 1,000 showings during the twelve months up to May of this year. The Home Office will continue to encourage this publicity, but the screening of public service material is at the discretion of the television authorities. I am grateful for their co-operation in this matter.