HL Deb 28 June 1967 vol 284 cc163-4
LORD ST. OSWALD

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

[The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what is the usefulness of the commando carrier to be stationed in South Arabian waters, seeing that the Government, as emphasised in Parliament, have "no intention that the troops should be employed on the shore, for operational purposes".]

THE MINISTER WITHOUT PORTFOLIO (LORD SHACKLETON)

My Lords, it is the policy of Her Majesty's Government to keep one commando ship East of Suez. It is therefore convenient for this ship, which includes in its capability a useful complement of helicopters, to be associated with the naval support force in South Arabian waters. It is not usual to give details of a concept of operational employment in situations of this kind.

LORD ST. OSWALD

My Lords, one of the rather dubious virtues of giving no Answer whatever to a Parliamentary Question is that it makes the asking of supplementary questions very difficult. Such is my respect for the noble Lord's judgment that I will not press him on this subject.

LORD SHEPHERD

Ask a question.

LORD ST. OSWALD

If the noble Lord wants a question I will ask it; ask to have an answer to my substantive question.

LORD FRASER OF LONSDALE

My Lords, are there any men to go in the helicopters?

LORD SHACKLETON

I did not quite hear either of the noble Lord's questions.

LORD FRASER OF LONSDALE

May I ask whether there are any men to go in the helicopters?

LORD SHACKLETON

. My Lords, it is usual to have men in helicopters.

EARL JELLICOE

My Lords, may I ask the noble Lord whether there will be a Royal Marine commando permanently embarked on the commando carrier?

LORD SHACKLETON

My Lords, I cannot say whether it will be permanently embarked, but normally it will be—and perhaps that is what the noble Lord was wanting to ask. I anticipate there will be a marine commando on board this ship.