Mr. HinchcliffeTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons died as a result of drowning on bathing beaches, in each year since 1980 and(a) in England and (b) in each English coastal resort; and how many of these were under the age of 18 years.
§ Mr. Nicholas BakerStatistics that would identify drownings off beaches in Britain are not collected centrally, but since 1983 the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents has produced and published annual statistics on drownings in the United Kingdom based on collation of press reports. I understand that they may hold information which could assist in answering the hon. Member's question.