§ 53. Miss Vickersasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty if he will make a statement on the recent fires in H.M.S. "Ark Royal" and H.M.S. "Eagle" at Devonport dockyard.
§ Mr. T. G. D. GalbraithDuring "Ark Royal's" refit on 9th April, fire broke out in one boiler room thought to have been caused by sparks from oxyacetylene burning. The fire spread to adjacent compartments and was extinguished about four hours later with the assistance of the Plymouth City Fire Brigade, for whose efforts we are very grateful. I am glad to say that although eight dockyard workers were overcome by smoke there was no loss of life or serious injury.
A board of inquiry is sitting to establish the cause of the fire and the extent of the damage, and I cannot make any further statement until the reports have been studied. It is believed, however, that the damage is less serious than was first reported in the Press.
On the 11th April, three very small fires broke out in "Eagle" and were quickly extinguished without doing any damage. Inquiries are continuing, but it has already been established that there is no evidence of malicious intent.