§ Mr. Juddasked the Minister of State for Defence how many men and ships were involved in the recent visit by Royal Navy vessels to Portugal; for how long the visit took place; at whose suggestion it was arranged; what was its total cost; and whether he will make a statement on the visit.
§ Mr. BuckThree HM Ships, and their companies of approximately 850 men, arived in Lisbon on 30th April and will stay until 4th May. Rear-Admiral Clayton and a Royal Marine band are embarked. The visit was arranged with the Portuguese to mark the 600th anniversary of the Anglo-Portuguese Alliance. It is not possible to quantify the costs of visits of this nature compared with the costs of the duties the ships might otherwise have been undertaking.