§ Sir Nicholas BonsorTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps, folowing the conclusions of Mr. Justice Sheen's inquiry into the sinking of the Herald of Free Enterprise, his Department is taking to ensure the better safety of channel ferries; how often inspections will now be carried out on such vessels; and what steps are being taken to bring those responsible for the accident to account.
§ Mr. David MitchellI refer my hon. Friend to the list of recommendations and actions taken in response to the report of the court of formal investigation which I placed in the Library last month. The Department's surveyors will continue to survey all United Kingdom passenger ships annually and to conduct general inspections on a random basis throughout the year; foreign passenger vessels will be inspected regularly under port state control procedures. The question of prosecutions rests with the Director of Public Prosecutions. Two members of the crew of the Herald of Free Enterprise had their certificates suspended by decision of the court of formal investigation.