§ 3.8 p.m.
§ The Earl of KimberleyMy 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 whether, in accordance with the United States Government's request, any British warships put into reserve will be properly moth-balled.
§ The Minister of State for Defence Procurement (Viscount Trenchard)My Lords, I am not aware of a specific request in the terms which my noble friend has used, but the US Government is clear that ships allocated to the Standby Squadron will be declared to NATO and will be adequately maintained for the purpose.
§ The Earl of KimberleyMy Lords, I thank my noble friend the Minister for that Answer. Can he say how long it would take for the standby ships to be made seaworthy? How long would it take for the crews to be found? From where would the crews come? Is he aware that it was 50 obsolescent American destroyers which largely helped us to win the battle of the Atlantic in the last war, although they were very antiquated?
§ Viscount TrenchardMy Lords, in the debates which followed the July Defence Review publication I mentioned that the Standby Squadron was at approxi- 840 mately one month readiness. I can only say that we shall make sure that the Standby Squadron is suitably maintained for its purpose. Detailed studies are going on in relation to the number of ships that may come into the Standby Squadron to ensure that an adequate state of readiness is preserved.