§ Captain Kerbyasked the Secretary of State for Defence what steps are being taken to provide more air-conditioning in older ships in the Far East Fleet.
§ Mr. MayhewAs the Question recognises, it is our policy to fit air-conditioning in all new warships and Royal Fleet Auxiliaries likely to serve in the tropics. Of the older ships in the Far East Fleet, many are fully air-conditioned. Of the others, the escorts and minesweepers are partly air-conditioned; we plan to improve these as much and as quickly as we can, though we have to take account of their likely future life and employment.