§ 37. Mr. C. R. Hobsonasked the Postmaster-General, in view of the loss of "Ocean Layer" owned by Submarine Cables, to what extent he estimates that additional cable laying work will need to be carried out by ships under his control; and what effect such additional work will have upon the cable-laying programme of the General Post Office.
§ Mr. K. ThompsonAt the time of the disaster, the cable ship "Ocean Layer" was sharing with the Post Office cable ship "Monarch" the laying of a transatlantic cable between Europe and North America. Both ships were under charter to the American Telephone and Telegraph Company. "Monarch" will now undertake the work which remained to be done by "Ocean Layer" and this will delay her own programme in 1959 by about four or five weeks. "Ocean Layer's" commitments for 1960 could be added to "Monarch's" programme, although very little margin would be left for contingencies.
I am grateful for the readiness with which officers and crew of "Monarch" 1343 have accepted the inconvenience and interruption of leave which this additional duty involves.
The disaster underlines the present world dependence on "Monarch" for the laying of repeatered telephone cables. The whole position is being examined as a matter of urgency by the Post Office and Cable & Wireless, in consultation with Submarine Cables Ltd., with the object of making provision for the future.
§ Mr. HobsonI associate myself with the hon. Gentleman's remarks about the extra work and duties involved for the crew of the "Monarch", but does he not think that his reply denotes the urgency of the construction of a new cable ship by the Post Office so as to avoid this delay, particularly having regard to the dollar-earning capacity of the General Post Office fleet of cable ships?
§ Mr. ThompsonI entirely subscribe to the views of the hon. Gentleman, but he has a Question on the Order Paper about the new ship, which I shall answer later.
§ 42. Mr. C. R. Hobsonasked the Postmaster-General when it is expected that the keel will be laid for a new cable ship to replace H.M.T.S. "Alert".
§ Mr. K. ThompsonTenders for the new vessel have been received and are now being considered. Until the order has been placed I cannot say when the keel will be laid, but I expect the new ship to be ready for service in about two years.
§ Mr. HobsonCan the Assistant Postmaster-General say whether the telegraph ship "Alert" is still at sea, in view of the somewhat peculiar incident that occurred when, in the course of repainting the vessel, a brush went through some of the plates?
§ Mr. ThompsonThat incident received a great deal of publicity and, not unnaturally, caused us to make careful inquiries. The fact is that "Alert" has an Al certificate from Lloyds as a result of a recent survey, and is due for another survey next February. We are considering what the ship's future ought to be. Meantime, she is kept in home waters.