§ Mr. Hoyleasked the Secretary of State for Transport what information he has as to the number of total losses and serious casualties to fishing vessels of any nationality in water surrounding the British Isles over the last 10 years which were, or are presumed to have been, attributable to the activity of submarines; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. David MitchellIn the period 1974 to 1983, 408 United Kingdom registered fishing vessels were described in my departmental records as total losses and 117 as serious casualties. In the same period, eight total losses and 74 serious casualties were investigated by my Department on foreign registered fishing vessels. Information about serious casualties attributable to or presumed to be attributable to the activity of submarines is not stored in my Department's statistical data and could be extracted from such detailed records as now exist only with disproportionate cost. However, information published annually by my Department does mention unusual causes of losses to United Kingdom registered fishing vessels and there is no reference to any loss in this period resulting from the action of submarines.