§ Mr. Frank Allaunasked the Secretary of State for Defence why two oil-fired underwater recovery vessels have been chartered to deal with HMS "Sheffield".
§ Mr. Blaker:No underwater recovery vessels hive been chartered to deal with HMS "Sheffield".
§ Mr. Frank Allaunasked the Secretary of State for Defence, further to his reply to the hon. Member for Salford, East on 23 July, Official Report, c. 340, if HMS "Sheffield" carried nuclear weapons.
§ Mr. Blaker:It would not be in the interests of national security to depart from the long-standing practice, observed by successive Governments, neither to confirm nor deny the presence or absence of nuclear weapons in particular locations at given times.