§ Ms. WalleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement about the circumstances in which the Pescado, whose wreckage was found on 8 March was lost; whether that vessel was previously involved in any incident since 1980; and if he will set up a public inquiry into the incident.
§ Mr. McLoughlinThe loss of MV Pescado is the subject of a full inspectors' inquiry, which is at present in progress. The circumstances of the loss are, at the moment, still unclear. To the inspectors' knowledge, the only previous incidents concerning this vessel were two injuries sustained by crew members while fishing. With the inquiry in hand it would be wrong for me to make any further statement at this stage.
When the inquiry is complete, my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State will consider, in the light of its conclusions, whether a public inquiry should be ordered. If he decides against this, the report of the chief inspector of marine accidents will be published. This will be based on that of the inspectors' inquiry and will include the inspectors' findings in full.