§ Mr. HancockTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what instructions were given to the official stenographer relating to amending evidence given by witnesses at the inquiry into the sinking of HMS Sheffield; and if he will make a statement; [R] [2339]
(2) if he will publish the papers relating to the Board of Inquiry into the sinking of HMS Sheffield; if he will make copies available at no charge to the then crew of HMS Sheffield and their families; and if he will make a statement; [R] [2341]
(3) if he will establish a public inquiry into the sinking of HMS Sheffield; and if he will make a statement; [2340]
(4) what (a) court martial proceedings and (b) disciplinary action against crew of HMS Sheffield were recommended following the inquiry into her sinking; who made the decision on prosecution; and if he will make a statement. [R] [2342]
§ Mr. IngramOn 4 May 1982, HMS Sheffield was lost in action in the Falklands with the loss of 20 lives; 26 other members of the crew were injured. Our sympathies of course lie with the survivors from HMS Sheffield and with the families of those who lost their lives or suffered injury. In accordance with normal naval procedures a Board of Inquiry fully investigated the incident. I am confident that the original Board of Inquiry was conducted to the highest professional standards and there would be no useful purpose in reopening this tragic incident.
Following the Board of Inquiry and after giving due consideration to the findings, in September 1982, the then Commander in Chief Fleet concluded that it was not appropriate to take disciplinary action against any member of the crew of HMS Sheffield.
Much of the information put before the Board of Inquiry was, and remains, highly classified and I am withholding it under Exemption 1 of the Code of Practice on Assess to Government Information which relates to defence, security and international relations.
Instructions to the official stenographer would have been recorded in the Transcript of Evidence of the Board of Inquiry, but unfortunately, in the time available, I regret it has not been possible to trace the file containing the Transcript of Evidence. I will write to the hon. Member on that point when I have further information and a copy will be placed in the Library of the House.