HC Deb 08 May 1957 vol 569 cc977-8
54. Lady Tweedsmuir

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty how many fishery protection vessels are available; and from which British ports they operate.

Mr. Soames

Eight, of which six are ocean-going. Ships of the squadron do not operate from any particular port, but move about Northern European waters, including the Arctic Ocean, fuelling and provisioning from the most convenient ports in the areas where patrols are required. The selection of these areas depends upon the movements of the fishing fleets.

Lady Tweedsmuir

Is the Parliamentary Secretary satisfied that these vessels are always brought into operation as quickly as is necessary, taking into account the long delay which occurred before H.M.S. "Bramble" was sent off to the Norwegian coast?

Mr. Soames

I cannot agree that there was a long delay. We were asked by the Ministry of Agriculture on 16th April whether we would send a ship. We said that our plan was for H.M.S. "Bramble" to sail on the 17th, which would enable her to reach the fishing grounds on the 19th. We asked if that met the Ministry's requirements, and the reply was that it did. We are, of course, in these cases, agents, so to speak, for the Ministry of Agriculture, and we have had no complaints from the Ministry as to the speed with which naval vessels have reached the scene.

Mr. Woodburn

Has consideration been given to the use of helicopters with these fishery protection vessels, which would extend the range of their protection very greatly and be much more economic by avoiding the building of extra fishery cruisers?

Mr. Soames

We use ocean-going minesweepers for this task and they have no facilities for flying helicopters off or on.

Dame Irene Ward

Does the hon. Gentleman think there are sufficient of these patrol vessels available to do the duties which fall to them?

Mr. Soames

Yes, I think so.

Mr. Hector Hughes

As to the fitness of these ships for the purpose, can the Minister state the age and type of each of them, and what crews they carry, especially having regard to the delay in the case of H.M.S. "Bramble"?

Mr. Soames

That is a wider question than the one on the Order Paper.

Lady Tweedsmuir

As these incidents between Russian and British vessels took place over a long period of time, may I ask whether the Parliamentary Secretary has to wait for a request from the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food before dispatching these ships? Could not they be sent to the area on the initiative of his own Department?

Mr. Soames

Normally, there are fishing protection vessels in the vicinity of these fishing fleets, but if there is a special incident which requires the intervention of one of Her Majesty's vessels, the Ministry of Agricultural, Fisheries and Food receives information of it from the fishing fleet and requests us to send a vessel specially for the purpose.