HC Deb 08 December 1982 vol 33 c842
10. Mr. Dalyell

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what reports of weapons found in the "Mary Rose" were made to his Department.

The Under-Secretary of State for the Environment (Mr. Neil Macfarlane)

The investigation of the vessel and its contents has been undertaken by the Mary Rose Trust, with contributions in cash and kind from various bodies, private and public. The trust has not made, and is not required to make, reports to my right hon. Friend on its finds.

Mr. Dalyell

I gave the Minister's office a fortnight's notice of this supplementary question. Is it not the case that if Henry VIII had had nuclear weapons on board the "Mary Rose" when it sank people would have wished to know where they were? Given the ionisation and the emission of radionucleides, should not the Government, for the sake of the other countries that use the South Atlantic, make the position quite clear about nuclear armaments entombed on the "Coventry" and the "Sheffield"?

Mr. Macfarlane

The hypothesis and the irrelevance of the hon. Gentleman know no limits at the moment. He may care to reflect that in asking such a question of my Department he may have wasted the resources of the taxpayer and of the Department.

Mr. Stephen Ross

Is the Minister aware that my constituency—the Isle of Wight—is supposed to be a nuclear-free zone? Is it the intention of the Department to help the Mary Rose Trust with the additional finance that it needs to finish its work?

Mr. Macfarlane

As the hon. Gentleman may know, the Department has provided about £200,000 towards the project. The trust is both a limited company and a registered charity. We are waiting to see whether further funds are required, but so far the trust has made no bids.