§ Mr. Hector Hughesasked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will state the names, dates and duration of visits of Her Majesty's ships calling at Aberdeen during the last five years; and what are his plans for visits of Her Majesty's ships to Aberdeen during 1965 and 1966.
§ Mr. MayhewAs far as can be established now, the details for the last five years are as follows:
1960
- H.M.S. "Defender" (Destroyer) 7th–12th November.
- H.M.S. "Belton" (Minesweeper) 25th–28th November.
1961
- H.M.S. "Battleaxe" (Destroyer) 27th April–3rd May.
- H.M.S. "Palliser" (Fishery Protection Frigate) 12th–19th October.
1962
- H.M.S. "Barnstone" (Boom Defence Vessel) 15th–19th June.
- H.M.S. "Battleaxe" (Destroyer) 24th–28th July.
- H.M.S. "Duncan" (Fishery Protection Frigate) 9th–12th November.
1963
- H.M.S. "Blackwood" (Frigate) 28th–31st October.
1964
- H.M.S. "Monkton" (Minesweeper) 3rd-8th March.
These were all part of the annual Home Fleet Visits' Programme. In addition, Aberdeen is visited fairly regularly by ships of the Fishery Protection Squadron in the course of their operational duties.
191WPlans for visits in 1965 are as follows:
- A minesweeper 8th–9th May.
- A frigate 11th–15th June.
- A minesweeper 3rd–4th July.
- A minesweeper 9th–10th October.
We shall not be making any arrangements for visits in 1966 until about the New Year.