§ Sir Antony BuckTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish an appraisal of the role of helicopters in the recent action in the Gulf with relation to support of the 1st Armoured Division in particular and of alliance forces in general.
§ Mr. Archie HamiltonWe are considering the outcome of the campaign and the conclusions to be drawn from it, but it is too early to say how the results of this work might be made public.
§ Mr. HarrisTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many United Kingdom registered merchant ships were used by Her Majesty's Government in connection with the Gulf conflict; and how many were chartered from overseas fleets.
§ Mr. Archie HamiltonTo date, five British and 107 foreign flagged vessels have been chartered in support of the Gulf conflict. A number of these vessels have undertaken more than one voyage.
§ Mr. NellistTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what have been the costs so far to public funds of the chartering of vessels to convey stores and equipment to the Gulf; what has been the cost to the Government of their freight agent; and if he will make a statement.
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§ Mr. Archie HamiltonThe cost to date of chartering vessels to carry stores and equipment to the Gulf is £74 million. It would not be appropriate to disclose details of the Government freight agent's remuneration: it is fixed by contract and is not affected by the cost of vessels taken up by the Ministry of Defence.