HC Deb 30 January 1963 vol 670 cc933-4
38. Mr. Burden

asked the Civil Lord of the Admiralty if the naval Board of Inquiry, investigating the circumstances in which Admiralty Tug T.I.D. 97 cap sized in Chatham Dockyard on Saturday, 29th December last, has completed the inquiries; and if he will make a statement.

41. Mr. P. Wells

asked the Civil Lord of the Admiralty when the hon. Mem- ber for Faversham can expect a reply to his letter of 1st January, concerning the capsizing of Tug 97 on Saturday, 29th December, in Her Majesty's Dockyard. Chatham.

Mr. C. Ian Orr-Ewing

The Board of Inquiry which investigated the circumstances in which Admiralty Tug T.I.D. 97 was capsized in Chatham Dockyard has now submitted its report to the Commander-in-Chief, Portsmouth. As soon as the report has been considered in the Admiralty, I will write to the hon. Gentlemen.

I would like to take this opportunity to express the Admiralty's deep sympathy to the three families concerned.

Mr. Burden

Will my hon. Friend give an undertaking that proper compensation will be paid to the families of the men who lost their lives as a result of this incident?

Mr. Orr-Ewing

I have looked into that. It is difficult to say what my hon. Friend's interpretation of "proper" is, but there will, of course, be awards made.