HL Deb 17 June 1985 vol 465 cc126-8WA
Lord Napier and Ettrick

asked Her Majesty's Government:

When the public inquiry into the loss of the British Barque "Marques" in the Tall Ships Race in 1984 will commence, and what are the reasons for the delay in getting the inquiry under way.

Lord Brabazon of Tara

The decision to hold a public formal investigation into this loss was taken in April. Arrangements for the hearing are being made as expeditiously as practicable, but a number of factors, such as the selection and appointment by the Lord Chancellor of a senior member of the Admiralty Bar as Wreck Commissioner and the need for the parties to have time to prepare their cases, inevitably affect the date when the hearing can commence.