4. Surgeon Lieut.-Commander Bennettasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty why no safety device is used for His Majesty's submarines consisting of a buoy or buoys attached to suitable places in the hull or casing by a magnetic device in such a way that when the ship's electrical system goes dead the buoy is automatically released.
§ Mr. CallaghanSimilar methods to the one proposed have been rejected in the past for technical and other reasons. But I will have the existing policy reviewed in the light of the recent disaster.
Surgeon Lieut.-Commander BennettWhile it is admitted that a buoy of this kind is only primarily useful possibly for the saving of life, would it not have cut short the search to a satisfactory extent if an automatic release on a submarine in distress were possible?
§ Mr. CallaghanI am not sure that I agree with the first part of the question. As regards the second part, the answer is obviously "Yes," and that is why I am having the policy reviewed.
Surgeon Lieut.-Commander BennettIs the hon. Gentleman aware that the objection mentioned in the first part of my supplementary question comes from a letter from one of his officials as a ground for rejecting any such scheme, and will he consider the scheme afresh?
§ Mr. CallaghanThere is only one official voice for the Admiralty in this House, and that is mine.
§ Hon, Members: Oh.