HC Deb 09 December 1993 vol 234 cc334-5W
Mr. Spearing

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what consideration he has given to reviewing his decision to reject the recommendations of the report of the Hayes inquiry into river safety—Cm 1991—that there should be an early review of the rescue arrangements and equipment on the Thames.

Mr. Norris

The Government gave careful consideration to this recommendation, which suggested an early review of the rescue arrangements and equipment on the Thames at the time that the report of the inquiry into river safety by John Hayes was published. It was concluded then that a further review of this kind would not be justified. Action has, however, been taken to ensure that appropriate lessons have been learned.

The Home Office has advised that replies from the main agencies involved in River Thames rescue operations confirmed that contingency planning has been adjusted in the light of lessons learned from the Marchioness-Bowbelle disaster.

In addition, a review of rescue arrangements and equipment on the River Thames between Teddington and the Thames barrier has been completed by the relevant district marine safety committee, and a new working group for the lower Thames was set up on 14 July 1993, with the initial task of assessing rescue arrangements on this lower section of the river. The district marine safety committee is also proposing to establish a sub-working group to consider life-saving appliances and escape from water up vertical walls on the banks of the Thames.

Mr. Spearing

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will place in the Library a copy of the authenticated transcript of the radio-telephone conversation between the Port of London authority Thames navigation service and the vessels involved in the collision between the Marchioness and the Bowbelle on the night of 29 August 1989.

Mr. Norris

I am arranging for a transcript of the recording made in the early hours of 20 August 1989 to be placed in the Library. The recording was made by the Port of London authority, of communications on VHF channel 14 which were broadcast or received by the Thames navigation service at Woolwich.