HC Deb 21 December 1955 vol 547 cc1995-7
7. Mr. Callaghan

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if, before deciding to dispose of a number of large fleet units including aircraft carriers, he approached Commonwealth Governments to find out if they would maintain them either in commission or in reserve in their own countries.

Mr. Digby

The condition of these ships was such that we could not have recommended their acquisition by any other Navy. For the same reason there would have been no purpose in keeping them in reserve either here or overseas.

Mr. Callaghan

Is it not the case that the Admiralty is going to dispose of a number of other ships, including carriers, which are post-war ships? Will the Civil Lord undertake to approach the Commonwealth Governments before he disposes of those ships, to see whether we can disperse the Reserve Fleet in that way in the Commonwealth?

Mr. Digby

I think this Question deals with—

Mr. Callaghan

No, it does not. The hon. Gentleman has misunderstood it.

Mr. Digby

We are, of course, in the closest touch with Commonwealth Governments and are well aware of their needs, and if the occasion arises we should, of course, offer them one of these ships.

Mr. Callaghan

Does the hon. Gentleman not realise what an insipid, unimaginative, uninspiring approach this is? If there is to be a nuclear war, for goodness' sake let us disperse the Reserve Fleet. Will he take active steps? Will he approach the Commonwealth Governments to try to get some energetic action, now that the First Lord, it seems, is to have greater leisure?

Mr. Digby

The hon. Gentleman's Question related to disposal, but now he is talking of the dispersal of ships by putting them in reserve, which is a different question that we are examining at present, including the suggestions which the hon. Gentleman made during, I think, the debate on the Navy Estimates.

Commander Donaldson

Is it not a fact that other Commonwealth navies are certainly full of energy and very alert, particularly the Canadian Navy, and that if they want ships from us they will make application to find out whether there are some for disposal? Surely it is not the policy to sell our ships to other countries simply because they are for disposal?

Mr. Digby

The Canadian Navy authorities certainly are in the closest touch with us and they are very well aware of what we have to dispose.

Mr. Dugdale

But were they actually offered these particular ships?

Mr. Digby

No, Sir, they were not, for reasons stated in my original Answer.