HC Deb 16 November 1989 vol 160 c397W
Mrs. Ann Winterton

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the policy of his Department on the making of payments to boats in Ilfracombe harbour to monitor emergency frequencies and to respond if required.

Mr. McLoughlin

No payments are made to vessels to monitor emergency frequencies. A master or person in charge of a vessel has an obligation, so far as he can do so without serious danger to his own vessel, her crew and passengers (if any), to render assistance on receiving a signal from any source that a ship, aircraft or person is in distress.