HC Deb 14 February 1968 vol 758 cc1334-5
24. Mr. Ian Lloyd

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what steps he is taking to ensure the effective protection on the high seas of the 650 British merchant vessels now trading east of Suez.

Mr. Healey

Her Majesty's ships are always ready to do everything possible to come to the aid of British merchant ships in distress.

Mr. Lloyd

Is it not a reasonable assumption that, as the power of the Royal Navy cast of Ascension Island declines, the incidence of acts of piracy increases? Are the Government taking any steps to deal with this in advance, or are, they waiting until there is some civil version of the "Pueblo" incident involving a British ship?

Mr. Healey

I do not think that the possible incidence of piracy is a sufficient justification for the maintenance of a large naval presence by the United Kingdom east of Suez. A very large number of merchant vessels of all countries pursue their courses in this part of the world without naval forces from their own countries being there to protect them. On the other problems raised in the protection of shipping on the high seas, we are, as the hon. Gentleman will know, in discussion now with the Shipping Defence Advisory Committee.

Mr. Rose

How many of these 650 merchant vessels have been subject to armed attack? Would not my right hon. Friend agree that this would be a very dangerous precedent, for example, with regard to Russian ships trading in British ports?

Mr. Healey

My hon. Friend has a good point there. Over the last five years, the Royal Navy has been involved in 36 incidents, but not incidents of piracy but of towing, fire-fighting or rescue, of which only nine involved British ships. In the 12 months ending September 1967, medical assistance was given by the Royal Navy to nine ships, five of which were British.