In a speech to the House of Commons on Tuesday 7th February Sheryll Murray MP announced that she had sourced funding for emergency stop buttons for fishing vessels so that they could be fitted to vessels around the UK.
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport Mike Penning praised the “dignified” way in which Sheryll Murray and her family have dealt with their loss and brought forward ways to try to save other families suffering their loss through initiatives such as the emergency stop button.
Following an invitation from the Minister, Sheryll Murray MP has now also joined the important fishing industry safety group to give her expertise to the industry.
After her speech Sheryll said, “I have campaigned for many years for improved safety for our fishing fleet and I am pleased that this extra funding is available to make these improvements. I will continue to work both in Parliament and now within the fishing industry safety group to help our fishing industry.
“No one knows more than I do of how important it is for fishermen to ensure there is an additional means of stopping their heavy hauling equipment on the deck of their fishing boats. However, with emergency stops costing approximately £1000 to £1200, economics will often prevent them from fitting them. I am delighted to confirm that I have just received a letter from the Marine Management Organisation confirming these safety stop valves will attract European Grant Funding towards the cost and indeed they have confirmed, ‘we will make colleagues in our coastal offices aware of this new funding opportunity so they can help publicise it across the industry’. I approached the MMO as a direct result of the accident that snatched Neil from me in such tragic circumstances almost a year ago and I can now take some comfort from the fact that other fishermen will hopefully be able to fit the additional stop valves that may or may not have saved his life.”
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Contact: Sheryll Murray MP’s office on 01579 344428