§ 36. Mr. Bill O'BrienTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the agreements between British merchant shipping companies and his Department on the availability of merchant ships for defence purposes. [104572]
§ Mr. SpellarThere are no agreements between my Department and British merchant shipping companies on the availability of merchant ships for defence. As my hon. Friend is aware the Ministry of Defence enjoys a close and productive relationship with the UK Chamber of Shipping and the DETR on defence issues, primarily through the auspices of the Shipping Defence Advisory Committee.