§ 10. Mr. Wallasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty the number of Landing Ships Tank, in commission and in reserve; and the number on loan to Army and civilian authorities.
§ Mr. C. Ian Orr-EwingAs shown in my noble Friend's Explanatory Statement on the Navy Estimates (Cmnd. 674), there are four Landing Ships Tank in commission and six in reserve. Seventeen have been permanently transferred to the Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation, which operates them on behalf of the War Office. A further eight are either on loan to the Ministry or on civilian charter and can be recalled in emergency.
§ Mr. WallIs my hon. Friend satisfied that sufficient specialised shipping is available to move Army tanks or vehicles wherever they may be required in an emergency?
§ Mr. Orr-EwingWe are about meeting the likely needs, but it is impossible to say that one will have the ships available in the right place at the right time. That is a matter which we are studying closely.