HC Deb 29 November 1982 vol 33 cc97-9W
Mr. Dalyell

asked the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answers of 16 November, Official Report, c. 139–40, whether, in deciding to despatch Royal Fleet Auxiliary "Fort Austin" to the South Atlantic to replenish HMS "Endurance", he took into account the fact that the ship's articles were due to expire on 24 April.

Mr. Blaker

This was taken into account. The articles provided for extension beyond that date if necessary.

Mr. Dalyell

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether it was his intention, when the Royal Fleet Auxiliary "Fort Austin" left the United Kingdom on 19 October 1981 for the Persian Gulf, to send her as a matter of routine to the South Atlantic with an unchanged crew.

Mr. Blaker

There were no plans to send RFA "Fort Austin" to the South Atlantic when she left the United Kingdom in October 1981.

Mr. Dalyell

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what restrictions were imposed on the use of water in the Royal Fleet Auxiliary "Fort Austin" in early May; and for what reasons.

Mr. Blaker

It was necessary to restrict the use of water in RFA "Fort Austin" in early May after a large number of survivors from HMS "Sheffield" had been taken on board. Water was turned off during the night and no laundry facilities were available in the afternoons.

Mr. Dalyell

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what special facilities from the task force were provided to thé Royal Fleet Auxiliary "Fort Austin" for the survivors of HMS "Sheffield".

Mr. Blaker

So far as I am aware, none.

Mr. Dalyell

asked the Secretary of State for Defence why, in view of her task of replenishing HMS "Endurance", the provisioning of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary "Fort Austin" was such as to cause shortages to her own crew of the supply of bread in the course of her routine deployment to the South Atlantic.

Mr. Blaker

There were no shortages of bread in "Fort Austin" during her deployment in the South Atlantic. The ship baked fresh bread or rolls every day and had an adequate supply of frozen bread.

Mr. Dalyell

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what tasks were carried out by the Royal Fleet Auxiliary "Fort Austin" during her deployment to the South Atlantic.

Mr. Blaker

After replenishing HMS "Endurance", RFA "Fort Austin" provided logistic support to other vessels of the task force. She also operated Sea King helicopters.

Mr. Dalyell

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether the Royal Fleet Auxiliary "Fort Austin" called at Ascension Island on her way to the South Atlantic.

Mr. Blaker

Yes.

Mr. Dalyell

asked the Secretary of State for Defence on what date the Royal Fleet Auxiliary "Fort Austin" replenished HMS "Endurance".

Mr. Blaker

RFA "Fort Austin" replenished HMS "Endurance" after the former's arrival in the South Atlantic on 12 April, by which time the latter's food stocks were very low. As I explained on 22 November—[Vol. 32, c.363]—complete information on the number of occasions on which HMS "Endurance" was subsequently replenished after the outbreak of hostilities is not readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate expense.

Mr. Dalyell

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether, in view of the widely circulated information in Gibraltar, before the departure of Royal Fleet Auxiliary "Fort Austin", that the vessel was bound for the South Atlantic, he will institute an investigation into the security of the orders given to the master of the vessel.

Mr. Blaker

No.

Mr. Dalyell

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish in the Official Report his letter of 22 November to the hon. Member for West Lothian about RFA "Fort Austin".

Mr. Nott

The text of my reply was as followsThank you for your letter of 16th November about RFA Fort Austin. I made it clear in the House that RFA Fort Austin sailed from Gibraltar on 29th March to replenish HMS ENDURANCE. The Prime Minister also made this clear when you later raised the matter with her. I really cannot help it if you do do not accept what we said—but it is the truth. Nor can I understand why you are having difficulty reconciling what the Prime Minister and I said on Tuesday with what the Prime Minister said to you in the House on 26th October. It was made clear in the House on 30th March, following the illegal landing on South Georgia by a party of Argentine citizens, that HMS ENDURANCE was being retained in the area for as long as necessary. It was against this background that RFA Fort Austin sailed to replenish HMS ENDURANCE. In her reply to you of 26th October, which you seem to regard as somehow inconsistent with all this, the Prime Minister was repeating that she had no warning before 31st March of the invasion of the Falkland Islands. I see no inconsistency here. Since you copied your letter to Lord Franks I am doing the same.

Mr. Dalyell

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what quality of fuel the Royal Fleet Auxiliary "Fort Austin" is equipped to carry for transfer to other vessels in her role as Fleet replenishment ship, separately from fuel tanks for her own use.

Mr. Blaker

None. RFA "Fort Austin" is a solid support ship.