HMS "Chrysanthemum" and HMS "President" (Hansard, 31 July 1986)

§ Lord Bellwin
My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question standing in my name on the Order Paper.
The Question was as follows: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will confirm that if the charitable agency, Inter Action Trust, tenders successfully for the two historic landmark ships, HMS "Chrysanthemum" and HMS "President", which are to be sold by the Ministry of Defence, they will look sympathetically at requests for grant aid to maintain and develop the tradition of these ships in the fields of training, education and public service.

§ Minister of State for Defence Procurement (Lord Trefgarne)
My Lords, competitive tenders for the purchase of HMS "President" and HMS "Chrysanthemum" have been invited. Exceptionally in this case, suitable bids will be considered not only on a financial basis but also in the light of the tenderers' proposed future use of the ships. Any future owner of the ships who felt that he qualified for such a grant would no doubt wish to approach the relevant Government department in the usual way.

§ Lord Bellwin
My Lords, I thank my noble friend for that very helpful response. Will he kindly bring to the notice of his colleagues the rather unusual and very effective work which this agency carries out?

§ Lord Trefgarne
My Lords, the point my noble friend makes will certainly be taken into account.

§ Lord Grimond
My Lords, is the noble Minister aware that many people will welcome this Question and will welcome the Government's favourable response to it? May I take it that the Government are familiar with the excellent work done by Mr. Bowman and Inter Action and that they will give that due weight when they come to make a decision on this matter?

§ Lord Trefgarne
My Lords, that will certainly be the case, but we shall have to consider the tender to which the noble Lord refers in the context of the others that we receive.

§ Lord Cledwyn of Penrhos
My Lords, may I also welcome what has been said and give my warm support to Inter Action? Will the noble Lord not agree that Inter Action has done splendid work in finding employment for young unemployed people? Does he not agree that they deserve support from the Government and from all of us to the extent that we can give it?

§ Lord Trefgarne
My Lords, I fear I can do no more than to remind the noble Lord of the answer I gave to earlier supplementary questions when I say that those points will be taken into account.