HC Deb 15 January 1991 vol 183 cc456-7W
Mr. Peter Bottomley

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what information he has on the comparative reductions and levels of over-the-limit alcohol in dead drivers from 1982 in Great Britain, New South Wales and Sweden.

Mr. Chope

The table shows, for all drivers and riders killed whose blood alcohol level was known, the proportion who were over the legal limit. Comparative data for Sweden are not available.

proportion who were over the level specified. The figures are for Great Britain only. Comparative data for Sweden and New South Wales are not available.

installation between 1974 and 1986, and the most common means of recovery was by fast rescue craft deployed from standby vessels.

Mr. Cummings

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will indicate the existing procedures and logging requirements for the repair and maintenance of fast rescue craft used in the North sea oil fields.

Mr. McLoughlin

The recording of the repair or the maintenance of fast rescue craft is a matter for the owner or operator of the standby vessel, but surveyors from the Department will examine the condition of the craft during surveys and general inspections.

Mr. Cummings

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to make changes in respect of fast rescue craft used in the North sea oil fields(a) to power the craft with diesel instead of petrol and (b) to have guarded propellers on such craft; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. McLoughlin

When fast rescue craft were first developed all that was generally available for propulsion were outboard petrol engines. New developments have made the use of diesel engines more practicable for the larger craft and their use is increasing. The phasing out of petrol engines and the use of guarded propellers will need to be considered in the revision of the present code of practice, but because of the range of duties a fast rescue craft is called upon to perform it is essential that design parameters should be as flexible as possible.

Mr. Cummings

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will indicate what training procedures exist for crews of fast rescue craft in the North sea oil field; and who is responsible for monitoring such training.

Mr. McLoughlin

Under the code of practice published by the Department, crews of fast rescue craft should attend a course in the operation of fast rescue boats which is offered by a number of training institutions. These courses are checked and endorsed by the Department. During annual inspections of standby vessels marine surveyors verify that sufficient numbers of crew members who have attended these courses are on board; and they often seek a demonstration of how the boats are handled.