§ Mr. CohenTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he has reassessed the likelihood of the loss through(a) mines or (b) missiles of a major ship in the Gulf, in the light of the incident involving the USS Samuel Roberts.
§ Dr. ReidTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the safety of British minesweepers in the light of recent military action in the Gulf.
§ Mr. Ian StewartThe likely threat to Royal Navy ships serving in the Gulf area is kept under constant review in the light both of general circumstances and of particular incidents. Although there is, of course, always some risk inherent in the Armilla patrol's duties, the ships have self-defence equipment relevant to the range of threats in the region. No Royal Navy ship was involved in the recent military action between United States and Iranian forces in the Gulf and Armilla's non-provocative and de-escalatory operating pattern is designed to minimise the risk of conflict at any time.