asked the Secretary of State for Transport what further consideration he has given to the circumstances surrounding the loss of the fishing vessel Mhari L in the light of the recent incident involving a United States submarine and the fishing vessel Summer Morn.

At the time the Mhari L disappeared there was considerable public speculation that a submarine was involved and the subsequent investigation into the loss considered this as one possibility. I am assured that no Royal Navy or United States Navy submarine was in the area at the time. Furthermore, divers found the wreck lying close to an underwater cable with its fishing gear caught on it.