§ Mr. HanleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he has considered a public inquiry following the Marchioness disaster; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. McLoughlinUnder the new regulations governing the work of the Marine Accident Investigation Branch, provision is made for investigations into serious marine accidents to take the form of an inspector's inquiry with a subsequent report to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State by the chief inspector of marine accidents. This is considered to be the appropriate form of investigation for this accident.
It is expected that the inspector leading the inquiry will be in a position to submit his findings to the chief inspector very soon. The report of the chief inspector will then be published at the earliest practicable date.