Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the risk posed by the explosives on board the wreck of the SS Richard Montgomery; what plans they have to mitigate that risk; and to what extent they have been implemented.

We manage the wreck of the SS Richard Montgomery to ensure public safety. Our approach includes an exclusion zone, 24/7 monitoring and regular condition surveys which are published on gov.uk.

There is no indication that the risk has increased but we continue to take expert advice on further mitigation. Our current focus is on reducing the height of the wreck’s three masts. Additional surveys to inform that work remain ongoing and will inform future management strategies.