§ Mr. Reidasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is satisfied that sufficient guidance on safety procedures is made available to climbers and hill walkers in Scotland, and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. McElhoneAt the Government's request, the Scottish Sports Council has for a number of years promoted mountain safety in Scotland by distributing posters and a pamphlet of guidance entitled "The Mountain Code in Scotland". I am placing a copy of this pamphlet in the House of Commons Library.
439WThe posters and pamphlet are made widely available and sent to schools, colleges, universities, mountain centres and mountaineering clubs in Scotland and England. The police also assist in distributing this material and are always ready to give advice on mountain safety matters. I am satisfied with these arrangements.
§ Mr. Reidasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish a table in the Official Report showing the numbers of deaths, and causes of death, among climbers and hill walkers in the Scottish mountains and hills in each of the last three years.
§ Mr. Harry EwingThe numbers of reported deaths in accidents to climbers and hill walkers in the past three years were as follows:
Climbers Hillwalkers Total 1975 3 5 8 1976 6 8 14 1977 7 7 14 As regards the causes of death, I am sending the hon. Member copies of the Mountain Rescue Committee of Scotland's accident survey for each of the three years, which analyses the causes of all reported accidents resulting in death or injury on hills and mountains in Scotland, together with relevant extracts from the annual reports of the chief constable of the Northern Constabulary. Information about the numbers of deaths in the period before 1975 is not readily available.