HL Deb 24 January 1951 vol 169 cc1100-1

2.37 p.m.

LORD VANSITTART

My Lords, I beg to ask the second Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

[The Question was as follows:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether it may now be assumed that adequate steps have been taken to correct the apparent facility with which unauthorised persons have been able to have repeated access to warships and dockyards in this country.]

THE FIRST LORD OF THE ADMIRALTY (VISCOUNT HALL)

My Lords, the noble Lord will appreciate that complete control of access to His Majesty's Dockyards and to His Majesty's ships within them cannot be carried out without reverting to the full war-time system of control. This I do not consider practicable because of the very large numbers of naval and civilian personnel which would be required. I am at present, however, once more reviewing the arrangements in force with a view to deciding what further safeguards would be justifiable.

LORD VANSITTART

My Lords, I quite appreciate the difficulties in applying absolute safeguards, but in common with a great many other people I think I may say that I have been rather shaken at the apparent facility with which un-due access was obtained in the past. I am glad that this matter is receiving proper attention from the authorities. I appreciate their difficulties, but I hope some more drastic means will be sought as a safeguard for the future.

VISCOUNT HALL

The noble Lord will realise, of course, that there are very large numbers of people employed in the dockyards; in one there are 20,000 people who have to enter and leave every day. I can assure the noble Lord that, as a result of an inquiry which has been held by a distinguished police officer (I now have his report before me), we are considering what further steps can be taken.

EARL HOWE

Could the noble Lord say whether any laxity was disclosed as a result of the explosion at Priddy's Hard?

VISCOUNT HALL

That, of course, is an entirely different question.