§ Mr. Dalyellasked the Secretary of State for Defence what course the "General Belgrano" was steering when she was torpedoed.
§ Mr. BlakerThe "General Belgrano" was attacked under the terms of our warning on 23 April that any approach by Argentine warships or aircraft which threatened our forces would encounter the appropriate response. There were indications on 2 May that the carrier "25 de Mayo" and her escorts would approach the task force from the north, while the "General Belgrano" and her escorts were attempting to complete a pincer movement from the south. Concerned that HMS "Conqueror" might lose the "General Belgrano" as she ran over the shallow water of the Burdwood Bank, the task force commander sought and obtained a change in the rules of engagement to allow an attack outside the 200-mile exclusion zone but within the general principle set out in our warning of 23 April. Throughout 2 May, the cruiser and her escorts had made many changes of course. At the moment she was torpedoed, about 8 pm London time, "General Belgrano" was on a course of 280 deg.