§ Mr. Dalyellasked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the measures under consideration to enable certain merchant ships more easily to play a military role; what factors will govern his selection of particular vessels for conversion; and what financial arrangements he expects to make.
§ Mr. PattieI refer the hon. Member to the earlier reply to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Haltemprice (Sir P. Wall) on 18 October—[Vol. 29, c.46–47]—about the setting up of a working party under the auspices of the Shipping Defence Advisory Committee. I have nothing to add at this stage.