HC Deb 05 April 1973 vol 854 c149W
Mr. Prescott

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) if his Department has received a copy of the findings of the Liberian court of inquiry into the collision of the "Royston Grange" with the Liberian registered vessel "Tien Chee";

(2) if his Department intends to hold a formal investigation into the collision of the "Royston Grange", following his inspector's report on the Liberian inquiry.

Mr. Michael Heseltine

The findings of the Liberian marine board of investigation are not yet available. We shall decide in the light of them whether we should hold our own formal investigation. In the meantime we have commissioned a programme of tank tests by the National Physical Laboratory related to the technical circumstances leading to the collision.

Mr. Prescott

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if his Department has received the report of the inquiries held by the Argentine authorities into the collision of the British vessel "Royston Grange" and the Liberian vessel "Tien Chee".

Mr. Michael Heseltine

We have sought access to the findings of the judicial inquiry and of the administrative inquiry which is still in session and are making a further approach to the Argentinian authorities on this matter.