HC Deb 08 April 1970 vol 799 cc535-6
27. Mr. Dalyell

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what proposals he now has for the use of the aircraft carriers "Hermes" and "Ark Royal".

Mr. Healey

No decision has yet been taken about the future of these ships after their fixed-wing flying task has been completed.

Mr. Dalyell

Is any serious thought being given to the possibility of the civilian use of these fine ships, either for floating industrial exhibitions or for educational purposes, after they have come to the end of their military life?

Mr. Healey

Every possibility is being explored, but this is not one of the higher priorities.

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

Is the Secretary of State saying that he has no plans after 18 months for the use of the "Ark Royal", on which he has just spent £32 million of the taxpayers' money?

Mr. Healey

Nobody would have been more forward than the right hon. Gentleman if I had not made provision for the protection of the final withdrawal of our forces from the Gulf and the Far East. I hope that nobody in the House will grudge money spent to secure that that withdrawal takes place in conditions of security for the men concerned.

31. Mr. Wall

asked the Secretary of State for Defence why the appointment of a full-time public relations officer for H.M.S. "Ark Royal" has been cancelled.

Dr. David Owen

The complements of sea-going H.M. ships do not include fulltime public relations officers. No fulltime P.R.O. appointment to "Ark Royal" has been made or cancelled. As an initial step one officer for public relations is being appointed to the sea-going Fleet generally.

Mr. Wall

Is it not a fact that publicity about aircraft carriers has been deliberately played down, and would the Minister congratulate those in the "Ark Royal" who had the initiative to display a large banner over its stern the other day entitled "Fly Navy"?

Dr. Owen

In reply to the last part of the question, I have been away but I gather that that was on H.M.S. "Eagle". As to the question of deliberate reduction in the public relations effort, the situation is to the contrary. The fact is that we are now appointing a public relations officer for the seagoing Fleet where one has never existed before.

Sir A. V. Harvey

Would it not be convenient if the Prime Minister were to lend to the Navy a public relations officer from 10 Downing Street, where there seems to be a surplus?