§ 66. Rear-Admiral Morgan-Gilesasked the Secretary of State for Defence what has been the total cost of the Beira Patrol from its inception until 31st December, 1969; how many of Her Majesty's ships have been detailed for this patrol on two or more occasions; and what steps he has taken to ensure that the ships' companies concerned understood the reasons for the continuation of this patrol.
§ Dr. David OwenThe extra cost of the naval and air patrols off Beira from their inception until 31st December, 1969, has been about £1.7 million. I regret that it is not possible to give the total attributable cost of this commitment. It is not the practice to give detailed information of the kind requested about individual H.M. Ships, but all destroyers and frigates sent to the Far East or the Gulf normally do one or more periods on the Beira Patrol during their deployment. Instructions issued to the patrol make clear the reasons for maintaining it, and it is the normal practice for commanding officers to give their own ship's companies full information about their programme and tasks.