HC Deb 07 December 1998 vol 322 cc7-8
8. Mr. Tim Loughton (East Worthing and Shoreham)

What discussions he has had with the Chilean Government about the future availability of dry dock facilities to Royal Navy vessels in south America. [61344]

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence (Mr. John Spellar)

My colleagues and I have had no discussions with the Chilean Government about the future availability of dry-dock facilities to Royal Navy vessels in south America.

Mr. Loughton

That was short and sweet, but is the Minister not aware that, in 1994, HMS Brazen ran aground in the south Atlantic, was rescued by the Chilean navy stationed at Punta Arenas and was afforded repair facilities in a Chilean dock? How confident is he that similar help will be on offer from Chile to the many royal naval and merchant navy vessels that serve in the south Atlantic? Failing that, what alternative arrangements has his Department been discussing with other south American countries?

Mr. Spellar

We do not have great ranges of agreement throughout the world about dry-dock facilities. We have ad hoc arrangements, dealt with under the normal arrangements between countries and, particularly, between navies, which are obviously concerned if a vessel of another fleet is in distress. The good relations that we have with our Chilean counterparts—

Mr. Loughton

Had.

Mr. Spellar

The good defence relations that we have with our Chilean counterparts will continue. We have no evidence to the contrary.

Mr. Ian Davidson (Glasgow, Pollok)

Is the Minister aware that, after using any Chilean dry dock, the ships involved would be required to undertake sea trials, and that sea trials are the only sort of Chilean trial that we believe would be impartially conducted?

Mr. Spellar

My hon. Friend ingeniously tries to tempt me into an area in which the Home Secretary has a quasi-judicial capacity and on which I should not be tempted further.