HC Deb 16 December 1997 vol 303 cc151-2W
Mr. Alan Johnson

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 20 November 1997,Official Report, column 295, if he will publish the report from HMS Mohawk dealing with her involvement in the search and rescue operation conducted following the disappearance of The Gaul. [20356]

Ms Glenda Jackson

HMS Mohawk was one of several vessels that took part in the search of the Eastern Greenland and Western Barents Seas between 11 and 14 February 1974. The search was co-ordinated from HMS Hermes and a report of the search was filed on 19 February. A complete narrative of events is included at Annexe A of that report. Both the report and the narrative give details of HMS Mohawk's contribution to the search operation. The report has been retrieved from files held by the Marine Safety Agency and copies of the report and the Annexe have been placed in the Library.

Mr. Alan Johnson

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 20 November 1997,Official Report, column 295, what the (a) contents and (b) sources were of the 13 reports received on the possible location of the wreck of The Gaul. [20353]

Ms Glenda Jackson

The positions reported and their sources were:

  • 72°04'N
  • 25°05'E: RAIRO—Norwegian fishing vessel
  • 72°10'N
  • 27°45/'E: POSEIDON—German support vessel
  • 72°03'N
  • 25°04'E: MARBELLA—UK fishing vessel
  • 72°13'N:
  • 23°40'E: ELLA HEWITT—UK fishing vessel
  • 72°N
  • 25°E: SWANELLA—UK fishing vessel
  • 71°20'N
  • 28°25'E: ROVER—UK fishing vessel
  • 70°40'N
  • 16°54'E: Unnamed Soviet merchant vessel
  • 71°43'N
  • 27°07'E: ROSS CANAVERAL—UK fishing vessel
  • 71°20'N:
  • 28°25': Norwegian Maritime Authority
  • 72°13'N
  • 24°20'E: MHS RHYL—Royal Navy vessel
  • 71°37'N
  • 29°50'E: LORD NELSON—UK fishing vessel
  • 71°30'N
  • 27°00'E: ST. ROMAN—UK merchant vessel
  • 72°10'N
  • 27°45'E: Norwegian Coastguard Search and Rescue Report.

Mr. Alan Johnson

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 20 November 1997,Official Report, column 296, what was the cost of each proposal received to search for the wreck of The Gaul. [20357]

Ms Glenda Jackson

Five proposals were received in the two years following the loss of The Gaul. Their cost estimates ranged from £15,000 to £100,000.