§ Mr. RedmondTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he hopes to implement Lord Donaldson's recommendation in respect of the stationing of salvage tugs around the coast of the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement. [31439]
333W
§ Mr. NorrisEmergency towing vessels were stationed, as a trial, at Dover and Stornoway as a result of recommendations made by Lord Donaldson's inquiry and the emergency towing study team. The next highest priority identified by the inquiry and by the emergency towing study team was the south western approaches. On the basis of our experience with the tugs in Dover and Stornoway over the last two winters, we shall station a tug at both these locations again next winter; further, we have decided to place a third tug in the south western approaches next winter. We will shortly be inviting competitive tenders for that contract.