§ 2.48 p.m.
§ The Minister of State for Defence Procurement (Viscount Trenchard)My Lords, with the leave of the House, I should like to make a Personal Statement.
On reading the Official Report of 27th July, I noted that I was recorded, towards the end of the fourth paragraph of column 218, as saying during my windup speech—and I quote:
With regard to the destroyer and frigate level, and submarine numbers, I would say to the noble and gallant Lord, Lord Carver, that there will be an increase".The tape in fact indicates that I was trying to answer two points made by the noble and gallant Lords, Lord Hill-Norton and Lord Carver, respectively. Because of my incomprehensible grammar, Hansard ran the two answers into one. After listening to the tape, the Editor of Debates has agreed the following altered sentence for the bound volume—and I quote:and I therefore believe that the 50 destroyer and frigate level will be maintained: on the increase in submarine numbers, I would say to the noble and gallant Lord, Lord Carver, that there will be an increased number".This revision brings the sentence into line with the other statements on ship numbers which I had made in both my opening and closing speeches, and is in line with Government policy.