§ 1. Commander Keransasked the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will initiate discussions with the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development with a view to visits by Her Majesty's ships to The Hartlepools and other ports in the North-East with the object of promoting and establishing new industries in the development districts and showing potential industrialists the existing benefits available in the North-East.
§ The Under-Secretary of State for Defence for the Royal Navy (Mr. John Hay)I hive consulted with my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development, but it is not readily apparent in what way lists by Her Majesty's ships would further the object that my hon. and gallant Friend has in mind. I shall be willing to consider any further views that he may have. Nevertheless, we hope to be able to arrange visits by four submarines to various ports on the North-East coast during the summer and autumn of this year.
§ Commander KeransI thank my hon. Friend for that reply. May I put it to him that 16th December of this year will be the fiftieth anniversary of the bombardment of The Hartlepools, and does he not agree that that would be a good occasion for a visit from one of H.M. ships, bearing in mind that there is a recruiting office in The Hartlepools?
§ Mr. HayWhether that would be a suitable matter to commemorate in this way I am not at all sure. I should like to consider it.