§ Mr. WallaceTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the shipping casualties or accidents since 1 July 1983 in respect of which a formal investigation by a wreck commissioner or sheriff has been held under the provisions of the Merchant Shipping Act 1970.
§ Mr. Norris[holding answer 1 February 1993]: The information is as follows:
Date of accident Name of vessel 3 June 1984 Marques 6 March 1987 Herald of Free Enterprise 13 January 1989 Boy Andrew
§ Mr. WallaceTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport in what circumstances he will require a formal investigation into a shipping accident by a sheriff or wreck 5W commissioner in terms of section 56(1) of the Merchant Shipping act 1970, as amended; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Norris[holding answer 1 February 1993]: The Secretary of State would be likely to order a formal investigation where an investigation under the Merchant Shipping (Accident Investigation) Regulations 1989 cannot fully determine the cause of the accident and where there is a reasonable prospect that a formal investigation will do so. A formal investigation might also be called if, for any reason, the Secretary of State considered that it would lead to the circumstances of the accident and the lessons to be learnt becoming better and more widely known.