§ 1. Mr. Warbeyasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether he is now in a position to state the cost of transporting three Bahraini convicts to St. Helena in H.M.S. "Loch Insh".
§ The Parliamentary and Financial Secretary to the Admiralty (Mr. Christopher Soames)Approximately £170 which will be reclaimed from the Bahrain Government.
§ Mr. WarbeyIs the Parliamentary Secretary aware that this is only a tiny fraction of the real cost? Is he seriously suggesting that this return journey of 12,000 miles outside the normal command area, made by a frigate specially air conditioned for service in the Persian Gulf area, was part of the normal tour of duty? Is not the Parliamentary Secretary 356 disguising the fact that it is the British taxpayer who will pay the major part of the cost of using a Royal Naval vessel as a "black maria" of the sea?
§ Mr. SoamesNo, Sir. The vessel went ninety miles out of her way.