§ Miss Quennellasked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on what action he proposes in the light of criticism made by the Portsmouth coroner at the inquest on Able Seaman Lane who died while training in the submarine escape training tank at HMS "Dolphin".
§ Mr. JuddAble Seaman Lane was taken ill after making a fourth ascent in the tank. I regret that, despite immediate attention by the medical team which is always in attendance during training sessions, he died in the decompression chamber the following day.
A board of inquiry was held into the incident at the time. We are now conducting a detailed review of this form of training, in the course of which full account will be taken of the views expressed by the coroner. Meanwhile submarine escape training in the tank has been suspended.