§ Mr. Alan JohnsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will establish an inquiry into the role of officials in advising Ministers about the use of Hull trawlers for espionage and counter-espionage. [16688]
§ Mr. Alan JohnsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement about the use of trawlers for espionage and counter-espionage in the late 1960s and 1970s. [16690]
§ Dr. ReidA very limited number of trawlers assisted the Government in specific intelligence gathering in the 1960s and early 1970s.
At the time there was also a scheme whereby Royal Navy officers gained sea going experience in merchant ships, including deep sea trawlers. All RN personnel were encouraged to report back any opportunity sightings of interest, as indeed were the trawlermen themselves.