§ Q6. Mr. Dalyellasked the Prime Minister why she will not set up a public inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the sinking of the Belgrano.
§ The Prime MinisterThe Government have explained very fully and on numerous occasions both in this House and in another place the reasons for the attack on the General Belgrano. An inquiry into the affair would therefore serve no useful purpose.
§ Mr. DalyellAs the captain of the Conquerer has said in print that he was following the General Belgrano for at least 30 hours and the Government persist in claiming that the General Belgrano was detected on the same day as it was sunk, who is telling the truth or, bluntly, is it the submarine commander or the Prime Minister who is lying?
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. The hon. Member must not use that word. I am sure that he will rephrase that final comment.
§ Mr. DalyellIs it the submarine commander or the Prime Minister who is telling the truth?
§ The Prime MinisterThe full facts were given in several replies in the House and, I believe, in an Adjournment debate, in an article by my right hon. Friend the former Foreign Secretary and one by the former ambassador to the United States. All the facts are there. They support the Government's case.