§ Ms. WalleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what systematic assessment is made of human error in casualty investigations for shipping accidents.
§ Mr. McLoughlin[holding answer 9 July 1991]: Inspectors carrying out investigations into marine accidents are fully alive to the human factor in all its forms. Their inquiries, therefore, as a matter of course, include examination into the possibility of error and, where it is found, an assessment both of its cause and its effect.
§ Ms. WalleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, further to his answer of 2 July, how many accidents listed have been attributed to human error for each year 1981 to 1990 involving United Kingdom registered vessels, and 1989 to 1990 involving United Kingdom ferries.
§ Mr. McLoughlin[holding answer 9 July 1991]: The majority of accidents have several contributory factors and cannot be attributed to one specific individual cause. A list such as that asked for therefore cannot be provided. However, human error is considered to be at least one factor in some 80 per cent. of accidents; this applies to vessels of all types including ferries.