HC Deb 22 July 1975 vol 896 cc274-5
5. Mr. Henderson

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the discovery of an unexploded bomb by the fishing vessel "Coral Bank" on 5th July.

Mr. William Rodgers

The Royal Navy authorities were informed by Her Majesty's Coastguard at 0815 hours on 6th July that the trawler "Coral Bank" had reported picking up an object which appeared to be a bomb. The skipper was advised of alternative courses he might follow and in the event chose to dump and buoy it where it had been picked up. The object has since been recovered by HMS "Jura" and proved to be an inert practice round.

Mr. Henderson

I thank the right hon. Gentleman for his reply, and I am glad to hear about this happy outcome to the incident. Is he aware, however, that the skipper of the vessel was extremely alarmed to be asked to convey this bomb almost 140 miles to Peterhead in my constituency and to beach it there? If a citizen were to find a bomb in the street, he would not be asked to put it in his car and take it to a police station. Why should a fisherman be expected to take it up in his trawl at great hazard and to take it to land?

Mr. Rodgers

There are long-standing rules about the way to deal with objects of this kind based on the best advice that the Royal Navy can give. I am not aware of any problems of the kind that the hon. Gentleman mentions in the recent past. But I appreciate his concern. I have looked carefully into the course of events. If there are lessons to be learnt, they will be learnt.