HC Deb 25 May 1982 vol 24 c302W
20. Mr. Hal Miller

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he is satisfied with the response from British trade and industry to requests he has made in connection with the assembly and maintenance of the task force.

Mr. Wiggin

Yes. The response to requests for assistance in the present emergency has been magnificent and I should like publicly to express the Government's thanks and appreciation to the firms and their work forces involved.

23. Mr. Marlow

asked the Minister for Defence whether he will make a statement on the current operation of the Falklands task force.

26. Mr. Dykes

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he is satisfied with the progress shown in the operations of the naval task force located around the Falkland Islands.

27. Mr. Neubert

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will make a statement on the latest developments in the Falkland Islands conflict.

Mr. Nott

I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave earlier today to my hon. and learned Friend the Member for Colchester (Mr. Buck) and to other hon. Members

30. Mr. William Hamilton

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what are the total losses in personnel and equipment to date in the South Atlantic; and what is the estimated cost of replacement of ships and aircraft.

Mr. Blaker

The most recent reports indicate that 74 British personnel have lost their lives on operations in the South Atlantic. Three warships, HMS "Sheffield", HMS "Ardent" and HMS "Antelope" were damaged by enemy action and subsequently sank. One Harrier aircraft and two Gazelle helicopters have been brought down by enemy action. Eleven other aircraft—four Harriers, five Sea King helicopters and two Wessex—have been lost, but not as a result of Argentine action. We are urgently studying the whole question of replacement.

36. Mr. Ashley

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what change he expects in the numbers of armed forces deployed in the region of the Falkland Islands in the near future.

Mr. Nott

It would not be sensible, for operational reasons, to make such a forecast. I refer the right hon. Gentleman, however, to the answer I gave earlier today to my hon. and learned Friend the Member for Colchester (Mr. Buck) and to other hon. Members.