§ Dr. Edmund Marshallasked the Secretary of State for Trade whether, in his consideration of the report of the inquiry into the Fastnet yach race in August 1979, he will examine whether the organisers of the race could have caused the race to be abandoned once warnings of the storm were received; and, if so, whether the organisers should pay some of the cost of the rescue operation.
§ Mr. TebbitThere was little prior warning of the storm and at that time the yachts which subsequently got into difficulties were a long way from shelter. I am satisfied that an order by the organisers to abandon the rate at that stage would have had no significant effect on the outcome.