HC Deb 26 February 1985 vol 74 cc157-8
4. Mr. Dalyell

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what alterations were made to Sir John Fieldhouse's Commander-in-Chief's report on the Falklands war at the Ministry of Defence or at Northwood; which were made with Sir John's knowledge and consent; and on whose authority the remainder were made.

Mr. Heseltine

As with all official reports, the Commander-in-Chief's dispatch went through more than one draft. I can assure the hon. Member that the sentence dealing with the detection of the General Belgrano in the dispatch as published was unchanged throughout the drafting process. Any amendments that were suggested on other matters were agreed personally by the Commander-in-Chief.

Mr. Dalyell

Why should it be believed that it was for intelligence considerations that Sir John Fieldhouse's report did not state in the first place that the submarine was detected on 1 May? If there were intelligence considerations Sir John Fieldhouse would never have put in the first draft the true answer that it was detected on 1 May. Surely Sir John understands intelligence as much as anybody else?

Mr. Heseltine

Sir John would undoubtedly fully understand all the implications of the exercise in which he was, of course, intimately involved. The hon. Member for Linlithgow (Mr. Dalyell) seeks to establish that the Ministry tried in some way to change Sir John Fieldhouse's draft against Sir John's wishes. That is not the case. There is no foundation for that suggestion, and I do not understand why the hon. Gentleman continues to pursue the matter.

Mr. Yeo

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the majority of the British people understand clearly why the Belgrano was sunk and believe that the time of my right hon. Friend, his colleagues and staff would be far better spent in preparing Britain's defences against external enemies than in answering fruitless inquiries about this obscure historical incident?

Mr. Heseltine

My hon. Friend is in touch with the mood of the British people and with the mood of the House, but I have to respect the rights of hon. Members to ask questions such as that asked by the hon. Member for Linlithgow (Mr. Dalyell), however daft they may be.