HC Deb 02 February 1966 vol 723 c1068
16. Rear-Admiral Morgan Giles

asked the Secretary of State for Defence when he will make a statement on the future of H.M.S. "Centaur".

Mr. Mayhew

A decision on her future will be taken in the light of the Defence Review.

Rear-Admiral Morgan Giles

In regard to this decision, will the hon. Gentleman urge the Government to realise a lesson which they have learned recently off the east coast of Africa, that an aircraft carrier is a handy thing to have around even in peacetime?

Mr. Mayhew

H.M.S. "Centaur" is a rather special case, as the hon. and gallant Gentleman knows. It is rather smaller in size than suits our requirement.

Sir Harmar Nicholls

On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. Has it not always been the practice that a Department, to save the time of the House, when it proposes to give identical answers to several Questions takes them together? We have had many Questions with the same Answers.

Mr. Speaker

That is not a point for the Chair and is a waste of Question Time.