§ Captain Kerbyasked the Secretary of State for Defence, apart from the ice patrol ship H.M.S. "Protector" in Antarctic waters, what other British warships are at present on the South Atlantic and South American station; and if, under the provisions of the Anglo-South African Simonstown Agreement, a naval emergency of mutual concern in this area would have at this moment to be met by South African naval units only.
Mr. HayhewH.M.S. "Protector" is at present the only British warship on the South Atlantic and South American station. The arrangements for deployment of H.M. ships in an emergency would depend upon the circumstances at the time.
§ Captain Kerbyasked the Secretary of State for Defence if he is aware that the lack of British naval forces on the South Atlantic and South American station at present represents a breach of the Simonstown Agreement in that, as H.M. ships are not available, no co-operation and exercises for the furtherance of mutual defence in the South Atlantic area with South African naval forces are now possible and if he will take action to ensure more collaboration between the two navies.
§ Mr. MayhewThe allocation of H.M. ships to the South Atlantic and South American station is decided in the light of the R.N.'s world-wide commitments including collaboration under the Simonstown Agreement. There is no specific obligation under this Agreement to have H.M. ships on the station at all times.
§ Captain Kerbyasked the Secretary of State for Defence how many of H.M. submarines have been made available in the past two years for joint anti-submarine exercises in the South Atlantic area between British and South African naval forces.
§ Mr. MayhewTwo.