River Thames (Safety) (Hansard, 2 December 1999)

§ Mr. Hill

Lord Justice Clarke's interim report has been published today (CM 4530). The report deals with safety on the River Thames and is the first product of the Thames Safety Inquiry, which the Deputy Prime Minister announced on 18 August this year. I am glad to receive this welcome and thorough report, which is helpful as we approach the Millennium celebrations. Lord Justice Clarke has asked for any comments on the report by 10 December, and I will be very interested to see all the reactions to his recommendations.

I will, of course, review the report in detail and have already asked the Department for an action plan to be submitted to Ministers before Christmas. I have the following immediate announcements:

As to Millennium Night celebrations on the river: I am grateful for the extensive planning already done to ensure safety on the River on Millennium night by the Port of London Authority (PLA), by the Government Office for London and by the emergency services. As Minister for London, I have been closely involved and fully concur with Lord Justice Clarke's conclusion that the emergency services are as prepared as they can reasonably be expected to be for the Millennium celebrations. This should reassure users of the river and its banks that they will be able to enjoy a spectacular evening in safety. In the past few months the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) has inspected every passenger ship operating between the Thames Barrier and Teddington Lock to make sure they continue to operate safely. Each vessel now carries a specific Search and Rescue (SAR) plan agreed with PLA, and those plans will also be approved by MCA before the Millennium. As to the important issue of alcohol controls: My Department has today issued a public consultation paper on the introduction of alcohol controls, considering options not only in relation to masters and crew of merchant shipping and fishing vessels, but also for those navigating other vessels (including privately owned pleasure craft). We will finalise our proposals next year in light of comments received. 282W As to the year 2000, when we expect peak use of the Thames: In the coming year, MCA will continue its enhanced programme of inspections of passenger ships on the Thames, to ensure continued operational safety. Riverbank authorities are urgently invited to review the provision of bankside life-saving equipment in light of Lord Justice Clarke's recommendation. We are studying urgently how we can improve search and rescue facilities on the river allowing for those already provided by the Port of London Authority, the River Police and the London Fire Brigade. We are considering, in collaboration with other relevant authorities, the provision on an experimental basis, of an inshore rescue craft service on the Thames. Any such provision would be reviewed later in 2000 to inform decisions on permanent provision on the river in the light of operational experience. I am glad to announce that the PLA would be willing to manage this experiment for the Department. The Department will also work closely with PLA to produce a formal assessment of the risks associated with navigation on the tidal Thames. This will include consideration of search and rescue arrangements, as recommended by Lord Justice Clarke. I have asked for the first results of this assessment to be sent to me personally as soon as possible so that it can influence further planning. As to subsequent years: I am attracted by the recommendation that a duty should be imposed upon an appropriate single authority to assess and ensure the provision and coordination of search and rescue facilities on the Thames. I have asked for urgent advice on what legislation would be needed to secure its legal and financial basis. This will underpin the progress on safety which Lord Justice Clarke acknowledges has already been made and is now further enhanced by his recommendations. I am grateful for Sir Anthony Clarke's practical proposals for the Thames safety regime. I now look forward to receiving his final report, which will contain his recommendation on whether there is a case for a further investigation or inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the Marchioness disaster.