§ Dame Joan Vickersasked the Minister of State for Defence what is the result of the board of inquiry following the towing of H.M.S. "Blake" to Australia after the failure of two of her boilers; and how soon will her future be decided.
§ Mr. KirkH.M.S. "Blake" returned to the United Kingdom fully operational on completion of her Far East deployment and her future is not in any doubt.
She is at present at Portsmouth for routine docking, maintenance and recommissioning.
The Board of Inquiry was only set up on the ship's return to the United Kingdom, and is still sitting. H.M.S. "Blake" was at no time under tow during her Far East deployment.