HC Deb 17 March 1955 vol 538 cc1456-7
61. Lieut.-Colonel Lipton

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty what payment will be made for the three escort vessels recently built in Germany and taken over by the Royal Navy

60. Mr. Fernyhough

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty why no British shipyards were asked to tender for the three armed fishing protection ships recently bought from West Germany by the Navy.

The Civil Lord of the Admiralty (Mr. Wingfield Digby)

The cost of these vessels has been met from funds made available by the German Federal Government. In these circumstances they were acquired from German production. No payment will, therefore, be made by the United Kingdom for these vessels.

Lieut.-Colonel Lipton

While welcoming the fact that we are not having to pay for these boats at all out of British funds, may I ask if it is not most undesirable that these vessels should be constructed in German shipyards in gross contravention of the security control which is supposed still to be operating in Germany? Will the hon. Gentleman take steps to see that we do not get any more items of this kind?

Mr. Digby

I cannot accept the suggestion of the hon. and gallant Member. It is the normal practice that vessels of this kind are paid for by the German Government. It is normal that they should be bought from German production.