§ Mr. J. P. L. Thomas (by Private Notice)asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether he has any further statement to make about H.M. Submarine "Affray."
§ The Parliamentary and Financial Secretary to the Admiralty (Mr. James Callaghan)I règret to inform the House that although full-scale air and sea searches have continued during the past 24 hours, including search sweeping on the sea bed, the Submarine "Affray" has not yet been found. Hopes that any lives will now be saved are dwindling. The search is continuing.
§ Mr. ThomasI am sure that the whole House is grieved that the Parliamentary Secretary cannot give us a more hopeful statement. Will it be possible in the remaining hours of daylight today for the divers to go down, and can the hon. Gentleman say whether he is likely to be able to make a further statement this evening.
§ Mr. CallaghanIt is the intention that a diver should go down from the "Reclaim," one of the ships on the spot, at four o'clock today, which is slack water, to investigate a contact. The policy at the moment is to find every contact and to establish that it is not a submarine; but the House will realise that that is a very long process indeed. As regards making a further statement, I think that is a matter for the Leader of the House.