§ Mr. SalmondTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how much funding was received by the Marine Accidents Investigation Branch in each of the last six years; and if he will make a statement on the resourcing of the Marine Investigation Branch. [116734]
§ Mr. Hill[holding answer 3 April 2000]: The expenditure of the Marine Accidents Investigation Branch for the last six years has been:
Year £ 1994 831,840 1995 866,426 1996–97 913,337 1997–98 1,106,707 1998–99 1,579,266 1999–2000 1,284,218 In 1996 the accounting period changed from the calendar year to the financial year.
The Department keeps the funding of the Marine Accidents Investigation Branch under continuous review. The Department is examining alternative funding arrangements that will take account of the increase in the Branch's use of underwater surveys as a method of investigation.