HC Deb 27 October 1970 vol 805 cc65-6W
Mr. Dodds-Parker

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make a further attempt to move the British and other ships out of the Bitter Lakes during the cease fire on the Suez Canal.

Mr. Godber

On 19th August a representative of the owners and insurers of the ships asked the United Arab Republic authorities to permit a survey of the southern section of the Canal as an essential preliminary to moving the ships. The reply he eventually received was that this was not possible for the present. We shall of course reconsider what action we might take if the cease-fire becomes firmly established.