HC Deb 14 March 1962 vol 655 cc1293-4
8. Miss Vickers

asked the Civil Lord of the Admiralty what are his arrangements for ensuring that the channel buoys in the approaches to naval ports in the United Kingdom are in their proper positions.

Mr. C. Ian Orr-Ewing

The positions of channel buoys placed by the Admiralty in naval ports are checked at least every six months, and each buoy is lifted for maintenance and inspection once per year.

Miss Vickers

In view of the recent incident in the estuary leading to Devonport, may I ask my hon. Friend when the buoys were last checked?

Mr. Orr-Ewing

I have not got that date with me, I am afraid, but I should like to make the point that the whole of this case is sub judice.

Mr. Paget

Sub judice?

Mr. Orr-Ewing

Yes, because the summary of the evidence has to go to the Commander-in-Chief first and then it has to be sent to the Board of Admiralty, and I think it would be wrong for me to comment, because, no doubt, this factor is one of the factors which will be taken into account.

Mr. Paget

Whether it is sub judice or not, ought it not to be the duty of harbour masters to check harbour buoys regularly, not just once a year?

Mr. Orr-Ewing

I said that they were checked once every six months. This has been found to be satisfactory in the past. The Question refers to channel buoys, and channel buoys are checked every six months. As the hon. and learned Gentleman says, this is normally the task of harbour masters. This matter, again, is being looked into and also is sub judice.

Mr. Bellenger

Although this matter in particular which the hon. Lady has raised is sub judice, nevertheless, in the interests of justice, will the hon. Gentleman see that the supplementary question which she has put, and which the hon. Gentleman was not able to answer, is answered in some way, so that the evidence which the hon. Lady wants to elicit, presumably on behalf of the officer who was court-martialled, is made public?

Mr. Orr-Ewing

I am grateful to the right hon. Gentleman. Perhaps the hon. Lady could put down a Written Question even today so that I can get her the Answer about the last date when these buoys were checked under the existing regulations.