HC Deb 22 October 1952 vol 505 cc121-2W
92. Mr. Callaghan

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if H.M.S. "Formidable" is able to operate the Gannet anti-submarine aircraft without modification.

Mr. J. P. L. Thomas

No.

Mr. J. Dugdale

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty the reasons which prompted him to decide that H.M.S. "Formidable" shall be scrapped.

Mr. J. P. L. Thomas

Her Majesty's ship "Formidable" is to be scrapped because the considerable expense of modernising her to operate up-to-date aircraft would not be justified now that Her Majesty's ship "Eagle" has joined the Fleet and Her Majesty's ship "Ark Royal" has reached the fitting-out stage.