HMS "Endurance" (Hansard, 21 October 1991)

§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence (The Earl of Arran)
My Lords, 1311 the Government announced on 14th October that MV "Polar Circle" had been chartered to replace HMS "Endurance" in the Antarctic this season. "Endurance" is no longer fit to deploy in Antarctic water; and is to be decommissioned.

§ Lord Boyd-Carpenter
My Lords, I thank my noble friend for that reply. Does he recall that in the late hours of Wednesday night, when he announced what he has repeated today about "Polar Circle", he indicated only that she would operate for this forthcoming season? Can he now say that it is the firm intention of the Government that either "Polar Circle" or some other ship will carry out these duties in future years? Will he consider also whether that other ship or "Polar Circle", as the case may be, could very appropriately be renamed HMS "Endurance", both as indicating continuity and also as a very proper tribute to Lord Shackleton?

§ The. Earl of Arran
My Lords, in response to my noble friend's first question, I have already said that the Government are committed to maintaining the programme carried out by HMS "Endurance". Longer-term arrangements will naturally depend in part upon the operational experience which will be gained this year in operating in those waters. As regards the name of the ship, certainly no decision has been taken at present. However, a decision will be taken before she sails, which will be towards the end of November or at the beginning of December.

§ Lord Williams of Elvel
My Lords, I must tell the noble Earl that my noble friend Lord Shackleton much regrets not being able to be present in the House on this occasion. However, does he recall that the motto of the Shackleton family is: By endurance we conquer"? Can the noble Earl give us an assurance that the decision to commit the Government must and will be taken by 24th January, and not at the end of the season? If a positive decision to renew the charter is not taken by that time, the owners are prepared to put the "Polar Circle" up for rechartering. As I understand it—and I understand that my noble friend is so informed—there is an Italian authority waiting even now with cheque-book in pocket to take over the ship. Further, will the noble Earl agree that it would have been much better if the Government had taken a permanent decision and had gone for a long-term charter, or purchase of the ship, and renamed her appropriately?

§ The Earl of Arran
My Lords, I take the points raised by the noble Lord, Lord Williams, concerning the great part that the Shackleton family has played in the history of HMS "Endurance". In relation to the future commitment of a ship in those waters, a decision will be taken at a time that the Government think appropriate. I take note of what the noble Lord, Lord Williams, said about 24th January. However, I should remind him that the end of the season is towards April-May time.

§ Lord Campbell of Alloway
My Lords, in view of the last answer given by my noble friend, perhaps I may ask the question again. Is it the policy of Her Majesty's Government to fly the flag in the Antarctic?

§ The Earl of Arran
My Lords, I have just said that during the forthcoming season we have committed the "Polar Circle" to take up the programme previously carried out by HMS "Endurance" in those waters.

§ Lord Chalfont
My Lords, is the noble Earl aware that that is really not good enough? The question is: has Her Majesty's Government made the decision to maintain a long-term naval presence in the Antarctic? Is not the noble Earl aware—I am sure that he is—that this is an area of growing strategic importance? It is not good enough to say that the programme of HMS "Endurance" is to be continued. Are the Government committed to a long-term presence in the Antarctic?

§ The Earl of Arran
My Lords, I believe that the noble Lord, Lord Chalfont, is fully aware that all government departments, including the Ministry of Defence, regularly and annually review their commitments and therefore their expenditure.

§ Lord Shepherd
My Lords, surely that response is unacceptable. The need for a replacement for HMS "Endurance" is essential for our position in that part of the Antarctic. Apart from the political and international reasons, there is a need for a ship of this sort for a reasonable length of time. Is it not now time for the Government to say that they will replace the ship either by charter or by building a ship of the right standards for that particular task? I think that the Minister could well lead others to believe that we are not serious in our intentions in that part of the world.

§ The Earl of Arran
My Lords, I hear what the noble Lord, Lord Shepherd, says. However, equally, I must give the same indication to him as I gave to previous speakers. I repeat, the Government are committed to maintaining the programme carried out by HMS "Endurance". As I said, the season ends at April-May time. After that, obviously the matter will be very carefully reviewed as regards the future. We shall learn a great deal from the point of view of our ability or otherwise to operate in those waters.

§ Lord Geddes
My Lords, can my noble friend remind the House as to the duration of the charter of the "Polar Circle"? More particularly, in the light of the initial Question put by my noble friend Lord Boyd-Carpenter, can he say whether the charter is a time charter or a bareboat charter? That would have a significant effect on the ability to change the name of the ship.

§ The Earl of Arran
My Lords, I am not precisely certain as to which kind of charter is involved. However, I can inform my noble friend that the name of the ship will be decided upon before she sails.

§ Lord Kennet
My Lords, does the noble Earl remember that the withdrawal of a ship called HMS "Endurance" was commonly regarded at the time, and later, to have been among the causes predisposing Argentina to invade the Falkland Islands more or less 1313 immediately thereafter? If that is the case, what reason do the Government have for believing that the withdrawal of a ship in that area in a year's time will not predispose Argentina to invade the Falkland Islands again?

§ The Earl of Arran
My Lords, I can tell the noble Lord, Lord Kennet, that I have just returned from a visit to the Falkland Islands. I can confirm that there is a very significant garrison presence in the area. There is also a very strong naval presence and an airstrip which would provide for rapid reinforcement. The situation at present is totally different from that of nine years ago.

§ Lord Boyd-Carpenter
My Lords, will my noble friend bear in mind that any apparent hesitation or doubt about the continuance of the presence of such a ship will simply be an encouragement to those who may wish to repeat the efforts of Argentina in 1982?

§ The Earl of Arran
My Lords, as I just mentioned, there is a very strong military presence in the area. The "Polar Circle" is committed much more for hydrographic and scientific survey.

§ Lord Williams of Elvel
My Lords, perhaps I may press the noble Earl on my major question. Is it not the case that, if the Government do not commit themselves by 24th January, the owners will put the "Polar Circle" back on the market on a short-term charter?

§ The Earl of Arran
My Lords, I can tell the noble Lord that such matters are still under consideration.

§ Lord Greenway
My Lords, is the noble Earl able to confirm whether the Government looked at any ships other than the "Polar Circle", or was she the only one that seemed to fit our requirements?

§ The Earl of Arran
My Lords, she was the only ship thought appropriate to sail down to those waters.

§ Lord Glenamara
My Lords, why is the noble Earl making such heavy weather of the matter? There is a perfectly simple solution and that is to ask Swan Hunter's on Tyneside to build a new ship. The company would be delighted to do so.

§ The Earl of Arran
My Lords, I can only take note of the noble Lord's comments.

§ Lord Chalfont
My Lords, I apologise for prolonging the matter still further. However, will the noble Earl at least go back to the Ministry of Defence and put the following question with the utmost seriousness? It is not good enough to say that long-term commitments are subject to annual costings. We are aware of that fact. It is possible for the Government to make a long-term commitment to NATO. Therefore, why is it not possible for them to make a long-term commitment concerning the strategic importance of the Antarctic?

§ The Earl of Arran
My Lords, I take on board the comments of the noble Lord, Lord Chalfont.
1314 However, I remind him again that all our commitments, and thus our expenditure, are regularly and responsibly reviewed.