§ 136. Mr. Doddsasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty to make a statement on the position in respect of the Suez Canal; what is the extent of 142W obstructions; what action is contemplated or already taking place to clear the obstructions; and what is the estimated time that will elapse before shipping will be able to use the canal.
Mr. WardThe total number of known obstructions was 51, all caused by the Egyptians. Twenty-one of these were ships sunk at Port Said. Beyond Port Said it is estimated that 28 block-ships and two bridges have been destroyed, of which some seven to 11 are effective blocks for ships of up to 25 feet draught. There may, however, be further obstructions since it has not yet been possible to survey this part of the Canal.
The Admiralty have mobilised a large and well-equipped salvage force comprising some 41 ships, ten of which belong to British, French and German commercial salvage firms. Fifteen of these ships are now working at Port Said where they have already cleared a channel suitable for ships of up to 36 feet draught. Five are standing by at Aden and Djibouti ready to move to the south end of the Canal. Most of the remainder are expected in the Canal area by mid-December. As my right hon. and learned Friend the Foreign Secretary explained to the House on 3rd December, we have offered all these resources to the United Nations.
In a resolution of 24th November the General Assembly authorised the Secretary-General to continue his preparations for arranging United Nations help in opening the Canal. The Secretary-General has made it clear that every effort will be made to proceed without delay to the survey and subsequent clearance of the obstructions.
In view of the fact that salvage experts have not yet been afforded access to the whole Canal in order to survey the obstructions beyond E1 Cap, and in view of the fact that the work when carried out will be done under the auspices of the United Nations, I should still prefer not to enlarge on my Answer to the hon. Member for Liverpool Exchange on 22nd November, in which I explained to her that it was not possible at that stage to give a reliable estimate of the time required before shipping will be able to use the canal.