§ 2.52 p.m.
Baroness VickersMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they can state what are the plans for the future of HMS "Caledonia".
§ Viscount TrenchardMy Lords, it has been decided that "Caledonia" will be retained as a naval shore establishment. Until extra facilities are provided at "Sultan", the apprentice training task will continue to be carried out at HMS "Caledonia". When apprentice training eventually transfers to HMS "Sultan", HMS "Caledonia" will continue to be used for other RN tasks.
Baroness VickersMy Lords, I thank the noble Viscount for that reply. I hope that he will consider retaining "Caledonia" for its present use. It is one of the best training centres in the United Kingdom. It has some of the best facilities for sport, including golf, skiing, rambling, yachting, swimming, et cetera, which are so essential to young men during training. Retention of "Caledonia" would also provide extra employment in Scotland.
§ Viscount TrenchardMy Lords, I fear that I cannot fully satisfy my noble friend in relation to her supplementary question. Her Majesty's Government have decided that this apprentice training task would be better accommodated in the future at "Sultan". The reason for that decision is that modern training facilities and equipment are extremely expensive and consolidating at "Sultan" would seem to be the option that would prove the most cost-effective. However, I shall take note of my noble friend's views on the suitability of HMS "Caledonia" for, clearly, a number of purposes, arising from its attributes which she has mentioned.
The Earl of SelkirkMy Lords, can the noble Viscount say where HMS "Sultan" is situated? Will he bear in mind that, much as I admire the Royal Navy, it has a very great weakness for the South Coast of England, and therefore possibly an argument could be put forward for moving HMS "Sultan" up to HMS "Caledonia".
§ Viscount TrenchardMy Lords, as my noble friend clearly knows, HMS "Sultan" is located just by Portsmouth, and is therefore on the South Coast. I do not think that the Navy would accept my noble friend's charge. Rosyth—"Caledonia" being close by—is a very important naval establishment, and Her Majesty's Government and the Royal Navy are determined to continue to use "Caledonia", albeit for purposes which better suit their overall plans.
§ The Earl of LauderdaleMy Lords, is not Caledonia the best place for HMS "Caledonia"?
§ Viscount TrenchardYes, my Lords.
§ Lord AveburyMy Lords, is not the effect of the attempt to maintain every part of our existing defence capability, from HMS "Caledonia" to the submarine-based nuclear deterrent, that the Navy cannot afford even the petrol to take its existing boats out to sea?
§ Viscount TrenchardNo, my Lords. I think that we have been over those matters before, in terms of the short-term budget in relation to expenditure problems, which are not connected with this particular decision.