§ Mr. Prescottasked the Secretary of State for Trade what financial contribution the Government make towards the maintenance and purchase of lifeboats; and if they are satisfied that all are equally safe in use.
§ Mr. SproatThe lifeboat service in the United Kingdom is provided by the Royal National Lifeboat institution, which is a voluntary organisation funded entirely by private contributions. The Government make no financial contribution towards the maintenance and purchase of the instituton's lifeboats. All lifeboats are subject to exacting inspections and surveys conducted by the institution. I am satisfied with these arrangements.
§ Mr. Prescottasked the Secretary of State for trade how many lifeboat launches are made each year at the request of the coastguard services.
§ Mr. SproatI understand from the Royal National Lifeboat Institution that there were 2, 883 service launches of its lifeboats during 1980 and 2, 608 in 1981 up to 30 November. A service launch is for search, rescue or other assistance. The institution's records do not show on whose initiative a launch is made, and the coastguard's requests for launchings are not on the computerised records, so that the information is not available save at disproportionate cost. However, experience suggests that few service launchings are made except at the request of Her Majesty's coastguard.
§ Mr. Prescottasked the Secretary of State for Trade how many lifeboatmen have lost their lives for each year since 1969.
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§ Mr. SproatI understand from the Royal National Lifeboat Institution that nine of its lifeboatmen lost their lives in 1969, five in 1970 and eight in 1981 in incidents off the coast of the United Kingdom.