§ 6. Commander BELLAIRSasked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he will state why, in the weekly returns of losses of British merchant ships due to submarines or mines,' no statistics are given of the numbers of ships hit by torpedoes and mines which are not sunk, in view of the fact that information is given as to the numbers unsuccessfully attacked; and whether he is aware that the Italian Government is giving this information?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAThe weekly return for the Press was framed so as to include only the number of British merchant and fishing vessels sunk, and the number of merchant vessels unsuccessfully attacked. The number of vessels damaged has never been included. Many of them come back to service after repair. It is true that in 1982 a recent return the Italian Government included one ship which was damaged by a torpedo and towed into port
§ Commander BELLAIRSThe right hon. Gentleman has not told us the reason why it has not been done before—it is much more interesting information than the number unsuccessfully attacked.
§ Dr. MACNAMARAOne reason is that many of these ships go back to active service.
§ Mr. HOUSTONIs it not the fact that there are many steamers torpedoed or mined which reach the shore and become total wrecks, and those are not reported?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAI should not say there are many.
§ Mr. PRINGLEIs any record kept of the ships which have been mined or torpedoed, and which reach the shore and become total wrecks?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAI imagine that is the case.
§ Mr. PRINGLEAre they recorded in the returns any time?
§ Dr. MACNAMARANo. I have already stated that.