§ Mr. James Johnsonasked the Secretary of State for Trade what examination he is making of the life raft cover found off the Norwegian coast by the Hull trawler "Marbella" on 2nd March and later identified by the owners of the missing trawler "Gaul"; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Clinton DavisPart of a life raft container, later identified as equipment which had been put aboard the Hull Trawler "Gaul", was recovered in the trawl of the mt "Marbella" on 2nd March whilst the vessel was fishing on the North Cape Bank, north of Norway, in the broad area where it is believed the "Gaul" was lost on 8th February 1974.
With the agreement of the owners, my Department has asked the Ministry of Defence (PE) Central Dockyard Laboratory to examine and report on the general condition of the container. This may assist in establishing the history and general location of the container in the period since the "Gaul" disappeared but the results of this analysis may not be available for up to three months.