§ Mr. SpearingTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what procedures were available prior to the establishment of the marine accident investigation branch in July 1989 for preliminary internal and non-public but published investigation, comparable to that mounted by it in respect of the Marchioness disaster, that would also assist him in deciding whether to initiate a full public inquiry authorised by the Merchant Shipping Acts. [19761]
§ Mr. Norris[holding answer 18 April 1995]: Section 55 of the Merchant Shipping Act 1970 provided for a preliminary inquiry to be held by a person appointed for the purpose by the Secretary of State. PI reports were not published but lessons learnt might be promulgated through merchant shipping notices.
§ Mr. SpearingTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he received the main report of the chief inspector of marine accidents into the collision between the Bowbelle and the Marchioness on 20 August 1989; when he decided and on what grounds, that the nature of the report was such as to not require a full and formal inquiry under the Merchant Shipping Acts; when he first made that decision public and by what means; when he published the chief inspector's report; and what persons or bodies he consulted prior to his decision not to hold a full public inquiry. [19767]
§ Mr. Norris[holding answer 18 April 1995]: My right hon. Friend the then Secretary of State for Transport received the report of the chief inspector of marine accidents on 5 June 1990. The report was published on 15 August 1991 and in December that year my right hon. Friend the then Secretary of State for Transport announced the Hayes inquiry into river safety. On publication of the Hayes report in July 1992, in an oral statement made in this House on 9 July 1992, Official Report, columns 698–704, I said there was no case for a formal investigation because, as far as we were aware, all the facts had been established and no useful purpose would be served by such an inquiry. When making his decision, there is no requirement for the Secretary of State for Transport to consult other parties.
§ Mr. SpearingTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list each occasion when a Minister of the Crown indicated that it was not the intention of Her Majesty's Government to initiate an inquiry into the collision of the Marchioness and the Bowbelle on 20 August 1989(a) orally in Parliament, (b) by written answer, (c) in writing to an hon. Member, (d) in writing to a relative of any deceased, or their legal representative and (e) in formal interview or deputation, stating in 142W respect of any of the above any reason for declining to act other than the claim that no further or significant evidence had been drawn to his attention which had not already been contained, or dealt with, in the report from his marine accident investigation branch. [19771]
§ Mr. Norris[holding answer 18 April 1995]: This information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
§ Mr. SpearingTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport if, in the light of the recommendations made by the jury at the completion of the inquest into the death of persons aboard the Marchioness on 20 August 1989, he will reconsider his refusal to initiate a review of the rescue arrangements on the Thames by an independent person as recommended by John W. Haynes Esq., in his report to him of July 1992, Cm 1991. [19770]
§ Mr. Norris[holding answer 18 April 1995]: Thames rescue arrangements have been kept under review since the Marchioness disaster and we do not propose to initiate a further independent review. The London emergency services liaison panel has recently published new procedures for dealing with major incidents on the River Thames, with the police as co-ordinators of the emergency response. The river users liaison safety sub-committee of the London district marine safety committee has also completed a review of craft available for rescue throughout the tidal Thames and made recommendations for the provision of lifesaving appliances, grab-chains and warning signs along the river banks. We are giving urgent and careful attention to the recommendations made by the jury at the Marchioness inquest.
§ Mr. SpearingTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport if, in respect of the activity of the inspector primarily responsible for investigating the collision between the Marchioness and the Bowbelle near Southwark bridge on 20 August 1989, he will list(a) the witnesses interviewed at the initiative of the inspector, (b) those who directly or indirectly approached his marine accident investigation branch, and (c) others who have given evidence in any court and inquest relating to this event; and, in relation to those named in lists (b) and (c), if he will give the occasion and date on which they made the approach or gave evidence. [19772]
§ Mr. Norris[holding answer 18 April 1995]: The MAIB inquiry team obtained evidence either orally or in the form of written statements from well over 100 people. In the case of most of the survivors, the statements were those made to the police. It is not normal practice to provide a list of witnesses. My Department does not have any responsibility for keeping records of those who have given evidence in courts which are outside the jurisdiction of my Department.
§ Mr. SpearingTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport at what times the operations manager of South Coast Shipping and the officers of the Metropolitan police boarded the dredger Bowbelle on 20 January 1989, as referred to in his answer of 11 January 1994,Official Report, column 133; by what means; and if those times were recorded in the ship's log. [19780]
§ Mr. Norris[holding answer 18 April 1995]: The exact time at which such persons boarded Bowbelle and by what means is not known to my Department except that it was while the vessel was anchored in Gallions reach. 143W She was at anchor between 03.25 hours and approximately 04.45 hours on 20 August 1989. There is no record in the ship's official log book nor in the deck log book of such persons boarding Bowbelle on 20 August 1989.