§ Mr. McQuarrieasked the Secretary of State for Defence if he intends to investigate the circumstance whereby a Victor class 1 nuclear attack submarine from the Soviet navy passed through the Straits of Gibraltar under water contary to the Geneva convention of 1958.
§ Mr. StanleyI assume my hon.Friend is referring to the Victor I class submarine involved in the incident with the Russian merchant vessel Bratstvo to the east of the straits on 18 September. My Department is already aware of the circumstances surrounding this incident.
§ Mr. McQuarrieasked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the incident which took place recently in the Straits of Gibraltar when a Victor class I nuclear attack Soviet submarine was in collision with a Soviet freighter; and if this matter was reported to him by the admiral commanding in Gibraltar.
§ Mr. StanleyOn the evening of 18 September, the Soviet merchant vessel Bratstvo put out an international distress call, reporting an explosion. Shortly afterwards,926W a Russian Victor I class nuclear submarine was seen nearby on the surface with a badly damaged bow. The Flag Officer Gibraltar reported the incident to MOD shortly afterwards.