HC Deb 28 November 1979 vol 974 cc672-3W
Mr. Prescott

asked the Secretary of State for Trade how many fishermen have been killed or seriously injured when boarding or leaving their vessels for each year since 1976; and what proportion occurred in British harbours.

Mr. Tebbit

The information as regards deaths is set out below. Figures for serious injuries are not available.

Number of deaths on boarding Number of deaths on going ashore
Year British harbours Other harbours British harbours Other harbours
1977 8 0 1 0
1978 1 0 0 0

Mr. Prescott

asked the Secretary of State for Trade how many British fishermen have died by accidental death in British-registered fishing vessels for each of the years since 1976.

Mr. Tebbit

The information is as follows:

Year Total accidental deaths on United Kingdom registered fishing vessels
1977 25
1978 45

Information for 1979 is not yet available. The above figures cover trawlers and inshore boats and include deaths due to casualties to vessels and to missing at sea. Deaths due to disease, homicide and known suicides are excluded.

Mr. McQuarrie

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will list the injuries and fatalities which occurred during fishing operations on seine net vessels for the current year and for each year from 1955 to 1978.

Mr. Tebbit

[pursuant to his reply, 26 November 1979, c. 529]: I regret that the information is not available in the detailed form requested. From 1958 onwards data as to fatal and non-fatal accidents were collected only in respect of deep sea trawlers and are available in the final report of the committee of inquiry into trawler safety (Cmnd. 4114) (1958–1967 inclusive) and in the Department of Trade publications "Deep sea trawlers—Casualties to vessels and accidents to men" (1967 to 1971 inclusive) and "Casualties to Vessels and Accidents to Men" (1972 to 1976 inclusive). The latter publication includes additionally data on fatal accidents on fishing vessels

1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978
England and Wales 3 3 2 4 5 4 4 9 2 2
Scotland 5 21 3 6

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