§ 18 and 19. Mr. Willisasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty (1) whether it is now the intention of the Board of Admiralty to review the fitting of doors, coamings and sills on Her Majesty's ships with the object of removing those that are unnecessary to secure the safety of the ships.
(2) in what circumstances commanding officers of Her Majesty's ships are permitted to remove watertight doors, coamings and sills, without obtaining prior approval of the Board of Admiralty.
§ Mr. C. Ian Orr-EwingThere is no intention of carrying out a general review of the fitting of doors, coamings and sills in Her Majesty's ships. Commanding officers are not normally permitted to remove watertight doors, coamings and sills without obtaining prior approval of the Admiralty. When, however, there are special circumstances which justify such an action, and it is clear that there would be no danger to the ship, and that the former conditions could be restored by the ship's staff at short notice, the Board would give its covering approval.
§ Mr. WillisDoes not that reply rather make nonsense of what the hon. Gentleman said last week, when he assured me that in one case these could be removed without jeopardising the safety of the ship? If they can be removed without jeopardising the safety of the ship, why should they not be removed for the convenience of the men?
§ Mr. Orr-EwingI think it is true to say that after the war there may have been a slight over-insurance as a result of operational experience, in the extent to which ships were fitted with coamings and 1258 sills, but that position has slightly changed and we are reviewing—in this instance we have done so—the matter to see whether it is strictly necessary to have quite so many. I think the commander was absolutely right to remove those, as he did on this occasion.
§ Captain PilkingtonInstead of sniping at these minor modifications—
§ Mr. WillisI am not.
§ Captain Pilkington—would it not be more appropriate to pay tribute to the success H.M.S. "Eagle" has had during her commission?
§ Mr. Orr-EwingI would endorse that H.M.S. "Eagle" has had a very successful commission indeed. She has taken part in the Mediterranean in a N.A.T.O. exercise with great success and, during her commission, has flown a record number of air sorties.