HC Deb 10 February 1947 vol 433 cc1386-7
72. Mr. Medlicott

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether before the 100 German submarines were sunk by the Admiralty in 1946, any consideration was given by his Department to the possibility of using these submarines to generate electricity at appropriate ports and seaside towns in Great Britain.

The Minister of Fuel and Power (Mr. Shinwell)

No, Sir

Mr. Medlicott

Was no consideration given at all to the possibility of these valuable generating plants being used in crisis such as this?

Mr. Shinwell

I must inform the hon. Member that, under the Potsdam Agreement, these submarines should have been destroyed in February of last year.

Mr. Beechman

Is any effort being made to use submarines for this purpose?

Mr. Shinwell

An effort has been made quite successfully.

Mr. Bossom

Have the submarines been destroyed?

Mr. Shinwell

I cannot say, but the Agreement was that they should be.

Mr. Medlicott

Would it not have been possible, within the limits of the Agreement, to have taken the generating plant away before the submarines were sunk?