§ Mr. Grayasked the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what was the finding of the special investigation carried out by his Department and the Criminal Investigation Department into the damage to the British Underwater Test and Evaluation Centre torpedo testing range at Kyle of Lochalsh;
(2)how many of the damaged cables at the British Underwater Test and Evaluation Centre range at Kyle of Lochalsh have been replaced or are to be replaced; and at what cost.
(3)how many of the cable units at the British Underwater Test and Evaluation Centre range at Kyle of Lochalsh were broken or damaged by the activities of trawlers;
(4)how many of the cable units at the British Underwater Test and Evaluation Centre range at Kyle of Lochalsh have now been repaired;
(5)what measures he proposes to ensure that the British Underwater Test and Evaluation Centre range of Kyle of Lochalsh shall not suffer further damage; and how he proposes to protect the new cable units.
§ Mr. DuffyIt has now been established that 16 cable units have been damaged. The affected hydrophones are being refurbished and a programme to replace the damaged cables at a cost of about £210,000 will begin shortly. Investigations into the damage have now been completed and a report passed to the Procurator Fiscal for Ross-shire. Meanwhile, we are taking steps to implement a wide range of defensive and protective measures to improve protection to the range.