§ 2. Mr. David ShawTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what contribution the Royal Navy's West Indies guard ship has made to the joint UK/US/Dutch anti-drug patrol. [22306]
§ The Minister of State for the Armed Forces (Mr. Nicholas Soames)The Royal Navy West Indies guard ship makes a formidable contribution to the international efforts to combat drug trafficking in the Caribbean.
§ Mr. ShawIs my hon. Friend aware that just over 51 years ago Dover was in the front line of the fight against an evil dictator? Now we find ourselves in the front line against evil drugs barons. Will my hon. Friend assure me that the Royal Navy will do everything possible to protect children in our schools because many local parents are worried about access to drugs in ever increasing quantities? Will he assure the House that the Royal Navy will make war on the drug barons if necessary and take every necessary action to stop the evil trade?
§ Mr. SoamesI am very grateful to my hon. Friend because he is plainly quite right to highlight the anxiety of his constituents—and indeed all our constituents—about drugs in the United Kingdom. It is perfectly true that, with its West Indies guard ship, the Royal Navy has played an extraordinarily prominent role in fighting the evil of the drugs trade. Since December, the current West Indies guard ship, HMS Brave, has made three major drugs seizures of a combined street value of more than £125 million. In addition, my hon. Friend will be pleased to hear that a helicopter has identified a number of drug plantations ashore for destruction by the civil authorities. I hope that he and his constituents will be pleased with that answer. He has my assurance that the Royal Navy will do whatever it can to play its part in the war against that wicked trade.
§ Mr. Campbell-SavoursAlthough I recognise the relevance of the suggestions made by the hon. Member for Dover (Mr. Shaw), would he not be far wiser to support Opposition Members who have repeatedly argued 136 for the retention of customs officers, instead of backing Government cuts in the Customs and Excise service, which have a direct bearing on Dover?
§ Mr. SoamesMy hon. Friend the Member for Dover (Mr. Shaw) informs me that there have been no cuts in the number of customs officers in Dover, so I think that the hon. Gentleman is wide of the mark. I repeat that all those organisations have an important role to play in the terrible trade. All I can account for at the Dispatch Box is the actions of the Royal Navy, which will continue to play a very prominent, extremely successful and important role.