§ Mr. Normantonasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he has given consideration to the introduction of compulsory third party insurance for powered boats.
§ Mr. OnslowWe have considered this fully, and conclude that, while third party insurance is clearly desirable and is frequently taken out, the administrative effort in making it compulsory would be disproportionate to the improvement in safety which would result. Emphasis is therefore being placed on education and publicity to improve boating safety, and to this end a seaway code is being published next February.
§ Mr. Normantonasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what statistics are available to his Department about the number of accidents, at sea and on inland waters, in which powered boats are involved; whether he can give the number of cases in which third parties have been injured; and whether he will give the figures for 1970, 1971 and 1972.
§ Mr. OnslowThe total number of incidents at sea concerning motor vessels recorded by Her Majesty's Coastguard in the years ended 31st March 1971 and 1972 were 319 and 445 respectively. In the year ended 31st March 1973, during which the method of recording was changed, incidents concerning powered pleasure craft totalled 530. Information on injuries to third parties is not available.
The Department is considering to what extent collection and presentation of the 207W statistics might be improved in order to bring out more clearly the implications for small craft safety. Wider issues including accidents on inland waters will be considered by the Home Office working party on drowning accidents and safety measures, announced on 14th November 1973, on which the Department will be represented.