HC Deb 21 June 1954 vol 529 c29
54. Mr. Donnelly

asked the Minister of Supply whether he will make a statement regarding the germ war tests in which H.M.S. "Lomond" has taken part.

The Minister of Supply (Mr. Duncan Sandys)

Yes, Sir. The trials have gone off satisfactorily. The weather has been excellent and the arrangements worked smoothly. Valuable information has been obtained. The activities planned for this season are now concluded and the party are due to arrive back shortly.

Mr. Donnelly

I thank the right hon. Gentleman most warmly for that answer, but can he possibly give us some information to the effect that our money has been well spent?

Mr. Sandys

I do not think that I should add anything to the full statement which I have already made.

Mr. Hastings

Is the growth of the germs affected by the weather?

Mr. Emrys Hughes

As the various factors were also available off the Isle of Wight, why were not the experiments conducted off the Isle of Wight instead of off the Bahamas?

Mr. Sandys

Perhaps the hon. Member would suggest that we should have conducted the experiments off the coast of Ayrshire.