§ Mr. Dalyellasked the Secretary of State for Defence (1) whether the fire on board HMS Illustrious will restrict the Royal Navy's participation in the US Navy's RIMPAC exercise; and whether the British contingent will now take part in the bombing and shelling of Kaho'olawe;
(2) whether, in view of the request by the Hawaiian State Government to the United States Government to cease all bombing and shelling of Kaho'olawe, he will ensure that the British contingent does not take part in this element of the RIMPAC exercise.
§ Mr. StanleyFollowing the fire on board, HMS Illustrious has been withdrawn from exercise RIMPAC 86. However, Her Majesty's Ships Beaver, Manchester and Amazon and the RFA's Olmeda, Bayleaf and Fort Grange will, on present plans, continue to take part. The Royal Navy will not be taking part in the shelling of land targets during RIMPAC 86.
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§ Mr. Dalyellasked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the role of Royal Fleet Auxiliary Fort Grange in the US Navy's RIMPAC exercise.
§ Mr. StanleyRFA Fort Grange is one the ships taking part in the Royal Navy task group deployment GLOBAL 86, all of which will, on present plans, be taking part in exercise RIMPAC 86 also.
§ Mr. Dalyellasked the Secretary of State for Defence whether, in view of the decisions by Australia and New Zealand in 1982 and 1984, and Japan in 1984, not to take part in the bombing and shelling of Kaho'olawe during the US Navy's RIMPAC exercise, he is satisfied that British participation will have no adverse consequences for relationships with these countries and co-operation with them.
§ Mr. StanleyYes.
§ Mr. Dalyellasked the Secretary of State for Defence on which previous occasions the Royal Navy has participated in the United States Navy's RIMPAC exercise in the Pacific ocean.
§ Mr. StanleyNone.