§ Mr. Teddy Taylorasked the Minister for Trade if he will initiate a review of the adequacy of the size and capability of the merchant shipping fleet following the events in the Falkland Islands.
§ Mr. Sproat[pursuant to his reply, 21 June 1981, c. 4]: The size and capability of the merchant fleet is a matter for which my Department had a general and continuing responsibility. I am keen that the relevant experience gained from the fleet's role in support for the Falkland Islands' operation should be thoroughly studied. I am therefore writing to the General Council of British Shipping, the Merchant Navy and Airline Officers Association, the Mercantile Marine Service Association and the National Union of Seamen, inviting them to give me their views on the appropriate lessons to be learnt from the Falkland Islands operation. I shall study their responses closely.