HC Deb 20 April 1978 vol 948 cc317-8W
Mr. Prescott

asked the Secretary of State for Trade how many seamen have died while in access to or from British merchant vessels for each of the years since 1970; and what this represents as a proportion of 10,000 seamen.

Mr. Clinton Davis

The numbers of deaths while in access from ship to shore are not separately recorded but the following are the latest available figures of seamen who have been killed or drowned coming aboard from ashore:

which the figures are available, from: (a) South Korea, (b) Japan and (c) Poland.

Mr. Meacher

Following is the information for the period January-February 1978:

Total deaths* Deaths per 10,000 seamen (estimated)*
1970 18 2.0
1971 7 0.8
1972 8 1.0
1973 21 2.7
1974 15 2.3
1975 13 2.0
1976† 3 0.5
* Source: "Casualties to Vessels and Accidents to Men" published annually for the Department of Trade by HMSO.
† The 1976 figures await publication.

Mr. Prescott

asked the Secretary of State for Trade how many British seamen died an accidental death on British merchant ships in each year since 1970; and what this represents as a proportion per 10,000 seamen.

Mr. Clinton Davis

The information can be derived from the Department of Trade's annual returns published by HMSO under the title "Casualties to Vessels and Accidents to Men" and is as follows:

Total accidental deaths on board Deaths per 10,000 seamen (estimated)
1970 45 5.0
1971 25 2.8
1972 20 2.5
1973 30 3.8
1974 34 5.3
1975 38 5.9
1976* 32 5.1
* 1976 figures await publication.