§ Mr. SalmondTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he will issue the Government's response to the consultation paper entitled "Fishing Vessel Accidents and the Recovery of those Lost at Sea", published on 23 July 1998; and if he will make a statement. [109567]
§ Mr. HillThe analysis of the responses to the consultation paper was published on 9 February 1999. The Government's response to the paper has been delayed because we are awaiting the results of Roger Clarke's investigation into why no search was made for the fishing trawler Gaul, following her disappearance in 1974. Mr. Clarke's investigation examines a number of issues raised in the consultation paper and we wish to take his findings into account before we issue the response.