HC Deb 22 February 1961 vol 635 cc507-8
42. Commander Kerans

asked the Civil Lord of the Admiralty what is the future of H.M.S. "Leviathan" launched in 1945; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. C. Ian Orr-Ewing

I am not at present able to add anything further to the explanation I then gave to my hon. and gallant Friend last April. I note his interest, however, and when a decision is reached I will let him know.

Commander Kerans

Will not my hon. Friend agree that this ship is something of a white elephant and that it has been unused for very many years? Can he say what is the cost to the taxpayer?

Mr. Orr-Ewing

I think we should be taking a risk if we got rid of this ship, of a type which in the past has been very useful. The cost to the taxpayer at present of retaining this ship is £7,000 a year.

Mr. Paget

As this has been going on for years, when are we to have a decision about it? Is she, for instance, suitable for conversion to a combined operations ship, or what sort of rôle does one contemplate she might be used for? We have had this hanging on for years and years.

Mr. Orr-Ewing

I would point out that if we had not hung on, we should not have had "Albion" and "Bulwark" to convert into carriers. This particular ship is smaller than both of those, and when completed will displace about 15,000 tons. I should not like to say now whether we can get rid of it.

Mr. Lipton

May I ask the Civil Lord if any estimate has been made of the scrap value of this vessel? Is it not time to make some estimate of that kind?

Mr. Orr-Ewing

If we scrap it, it would go out to competitive tender, and in the interests of the taxpayer I should not like to give a price now.