§ Mr. Donald Stewartasked the Secretary of State for trade if he will list in the Official Report the number of ships, giving tonnage, which have (a) sunk and (b) requested assistance in each of the following sea areas (i) Pentland Firth, (ii) Minch, (iii) Little Minch, (iv) Sea of the Hebrides and (v) North Channel, over the past 10 years.
§ Mr. Eyre[pursuant to his reply, 16 June 1981]: In the nine years 1972–1980 four vessels sank in the Pentland Firth—gross tonnages 288; 824; 11; 4; three in the Minch—25; 32; 46; one in the Little Minch—50; two in the Sea of Hebrides—46; 398; and two in the North Channel—23; 10. Corresponding data for the year 1971 could not be included without disproportionate cost.
Information regarding requests for assistance is not available in the form requested. However, since 1 January 1977, 234 vessels in the categories shown in the following tabel have received the assistance of Her Majesty's Coastguard in the districts indicated.
459W
HM Coastguard District Orkney Wick Oban Stornoway Belfast Totals 5 Oil Rig or Tender — — — — — — 6 F/V 40' or over 4 2 5 10 3 24 7 F/V < 40[...] 2 3 4 3 6 18
1981 HM Coastguard District Orkney Wick Oban Stornoway Belfast Totals 1 Military — — — — — — 18 2 1600 GRT or over — — — — — — 3 < 1600 GRT — — — 1 — 1 4 Tug Barge or dredger — — — — 1 1 5 Oil Rig or Tender — — — — — — 6 F/V 40' or over — 4 4 — — 8 7 F/V < 40[...] — — 1 4 3 8
Orkney Wick Oban Stornoway Belfast Totals 31 56 48 53 46 234