HC Deb 20 April 1978 vol 948 cc318-9W
Mr. Prescott

asked the Secretary of State for Trade how many people were rescued by the coastguard service during each year since 1970; and how many deaths occurred in each of these years.

Mr. Clinton Davis

Separate figures for people rescued by Her Majesty's Coastguard are not available. The total number of persons rescued by the United Kingdom search and rescue services* which are co-ordinated by Her Majesty's Coastguard and lives lost in such operations are given below:

Year Persons rescued Lives lost
1970–71 3,550 Not recorded
1971–72 4,324 Not recorded
1972–73 4,109 198
1973 5,060 237
1974 6,760 268
1975 7,365 210
1976 7,684 239
1977 7,433 208
* Includes Royal National Life-boat Institution and Ministry of Defence helicopters.