§ 35. Mr. Emrys Hughesasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty if, 2082 In view of the shortage of scrap iron and steel for industrial purposes, he will issue orders prohibiting exercises likely to result in the sinking of warships scheduled for breaking up purposes.
Mr. DugdaleNo, Sir. The areas in which the trials are carried out are carefully selected to ensure that if the target sinks it can be readily salvaged. In fact, it is important to salvage the target in order to examine the result of the trials as well as for the purpose of providing scrap. The use of ships for ship target trials will, in practice, cause very little delay in their eventual scrapping.
§ Mr. HughesWill the Minister give us an assurance that the "Rodney," in which there are 39,000 tons of steel badly needed for scrap for industrial purposes, will not be sunk during these operations in the Forth?
Mr. DugdaleI cannot go into which particular ship will be sunk and which will not, but the ships will be sunk in shallow water if they do sink, and they can easily be got up from there to be used as scrap.
§ Mr. HughesIs the Minister aware that if this ship is sunk, it will be difficult to retrieve 39,00o tons, and will he give the point consideration?