§ Mrs. DunwoodyTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what guidelines he sets the marine accidents investigation branch for the time scale for producing reports following accidents or incidents. [11513]
§ Mr. BowisMajor accidents require an inspector's inquiry to be conducted, leading to a chief inspector's report being produced. The chief inspector's target is to 485W submit the final report to the Secretary of State within 12 months of the date of the accident. Consultation with those considered by the chief inspector to have been adversely affected by the report may sometimes prevent this target being met.
In other accidents requiring full and detailed examination, summary reports may be released generally or to interested parties. Where these are to be published, the target is to do so within 10 months from the date of the accident.