M.V. DERBYSHIRE

Early day motion 262, tabled 16 July 1997 by Edward O'Hara (Labour). Signed by 62 members.

That this House welcomes the completion of the camera survey of the wreck of MV 'Derbyshire' which sank in the South China Sea with all hands in 1980; is confident that the videotape record will provide invaluable evidence of the causes for its foundering and looks forward to the summary report; in the interests of full and proper scrutiny urges the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions to ensure that the report is not published whilst Parliament is in recess, that any relevant documents which have hitherto been withheld are now made available in the public domain and that all necessary and reasonable facilities and support are provided to the Derbyshire Families Association for their own independent assessment of the evidence; and trusts that the outcome will lead to life-saving improvements in the regulations governing the design, construction, operation and maintenance of bulk carriers, and will thereby provide some consolation to the bereaved families.

Signatures by party: Labour 44, Liberal Democrat 6, Labour/Co-operative 5, Conservative 3, UUP 3, Plaid Cymru 1.