We have introduced for the Thames provisions similar to those for most of our estuaries and rivers, but the coastguard does not operate in every river where there are passenger boats. We are therefore conducting a review of what are called the class 5 vessels that are found in rivers and estuaries throughout the country. We want greater uniformity in the system and I shall report to the House when we have completed the review. Gentleman also referred to the trauma that the victims have suffered, and that has been a feature of all the accidents that have occurred in the past couple of decades. Our provisions for handling trauma have improved, as we can see from that the fact that companies involved in railway tragedies are better informed.
Local authorities are also more helpful.
However, if a post mortem is necessary, nothing should be done to the bodies of the loved ones without the agreement of the relatives. I thank my right hon. Friend for his statement and, more important, for initiating the two inquiries. Much safety legislation reaches the statute book only when lessons are learned from transport and fire tragedies. That has happened time and again and it appears that we react to tragedies instead of being proactive.