§ Mr. Foulkesasked the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if (a) the control room log for April-May 1982 and (b) the signals log for April-May 1982 of HMS Splendid are available to him;
(2) if (a) the control room log, (b) the signals log and (c) the captain's account of HMS Splendid have been seen by (i) Ministers and (ii) any officials of his Department since the end of the Falklands conflict;
(3) when the routine destruction of signal logs of nuclear submarines was introduced in the Royal Navy; and by whose authority;
(4) what is the normal interval between the removal of a signals log from a vessel returning from patrol and its destruction; and where that log is kept in that interval;
(5) what Royal Navy logs, other than signal logs, are routinely destroyed.
§ Mr. Dalyellasked the Secretary of State for Defence (1) when the signals log of HMS Conqueror during the Falklands campaign was destroyed; on whose authority; and at what level the decision was taken;
(2) when the signals log book of HMS Splendid was destroyed; and on whose authority.
§ Mr. Meadowcroftasked the Secretary of State for Defence (1) in what circumstances Royal Navy signal log books are destroyed;
(2) in what circumstances signals log books from Royal Navy vessels could not be destroyed;
(3) how many signals log books of Royal Navy vessels which served in the Falklands during the hostilities in 1982 have been destroyed.
§ Mr. StanleyI shall answer shortly.
§ Mr. Foulkesasked the Secretary of State for Defence for each naval vessel which took part in the Falklands campaign (a) whether its captain's account is available, (b) whether its control room log is available and (c) whether its signals log is available.
§ Mr. StanleyI will write to the hon. Member.