§ 3.8 p.m.
The Earl of SELKIRKMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government why HMS " Hampshire " is to be scrapped after an unusually short period in service.
§ Lord W1NTERBOTTOMMy Lords, HMS " Hampshire " was paid off on 31st March 1976 as one of the measures to implement the reduction in force levels announced as a result of the Defence Review. She was chosen for disposal principally because of her poor material condition and her relatively high manpower requirement.
The Earl of SELKIRKMy Lords, is it not the case that HMS " Hampshire " was fully operational last year? Is it not also the case that three others of her class are being disposed of? Is this due to an absence of manpower or to the obsolete character of the weapons with which she is fitted ? Even if this is so, will the hulls be of no use in the future ?
§ Lord WINTERBOTTOMMy Lords, HMS " Hampshire " was due for a major refit. Since she was reaching the end of her useful life, it was considered that the money involved in the refit could be better expended in other areas. I do not think the noble Earl, Lord Selkirk, is correct when he says that three of the other members of her class are due for disposal. My information is that only HMS " Devonshire ", which is older than HMS " Hampshire ", is due for disposal in 1978; one ship now and one in 1978.
§ Lord MAYBRAY-KINGMy Lords, is the noble Lord aware that those who were present at the paying off of HMS " Hampshire " in Southampton regret very much the passing of this excellent ship ?
§ Lord WINTERBOTTOMYes, my Lords ; all great ships pass and are remembered with affection by their crews. But let us not forget that the Type 42 destroyer is now coming into service. HMS " Sheffield " is already in service; " Birmingham " will be accepted this year, and five other ships are on the stocks.
Baroness WARD of NORTH TYNE-SIDEMy Lords, is the noble Lord aware that I do not agree with his policy at all?
§ Lord ORR-EWINGMy Lords, before scrapping any ships of this valuable and relatively modern class, would the noble Lord consider at least putting them in reserve, because it may be possible in the future to fit more modern missile systems? If there is a temporary shortage of manpower—the noble Lord referred to the rather heavy complement of this class—it may be that a successor Government will find money to spend on the defence of our country. Is it not vitally important that these modern hulls should be preserved until a change of policy takes place?
§ Lord WINTERBOTTOMMy Lords, I will convey the noble Lord's views to my right honourable friend.
§ Lord WIGGMy Lords, is the noble Lord aware that the County class, of which the " Hampshire " is part, were obsolescent before a keel was laid, and there were some of us who protested against this extravagant waste of public money, which overall has cost this country £57,000 million since the end of the war? The fighting quality of these vessels was nil from the word " Go ". Does not this stem from the utterly irresponsible and incompetent White Paper published in 1957 by the Tory Administration ?
§ Lord TREFGARNEMy Lords, can the noble Lord say when HMS " Hampshire " was commissioned and 430 how many major refits she has had since then?
§ Lord WINTERBOTTOMMy Lords, she was commissioned 13 years ago, and she has had no major refit until now.