§ Mr. Marlowasked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the activities of Her Majesty's special forces on the Argentine mainland during the Falklands dispute.
§ Mr. Blaker:The Ministry of Defence does not normally comment on operations by special forces. Certain exceptions to this policy were allowed during the Falklands dispute but I am not prepared to make any further comment.
§ Mr. Speedasked the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to order replacements for the four Royal Navy and two Royal Fleet Auxiliary ships destroyed in the Falklands conflict.
§ Mr. Pattie:I have nothing to add to the reply of my hon. Friend the Minister of State for the Aimed Forces to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Haltemprice (Sir P. Wall) of 18 October.—[Vol. 29, c. 48].
§ Mr. Ripponasked the Secretary of State for Defence whether the cost of the replacement of warships sunk by the Argentine will be met by additional funds to those provided in the current annual defence budget.
§ Mr. Blaker:Yes.
§ Mr. Dalyellasked the Secretary of State for Defence whether any ships were loaded with ammunition or stores in connection with the Falkland Islands operation prior to 3 April; and, if so, on what dates.
§ Mr. Blaker:I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave the House in reply to his questions on 20 October—[Vol. 29, c. 170]—when I drew attention to the current review of the events leading up to the Argentine invasion of the Falkland Islands.
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§ Mr. Ripponasked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he is satisfied that the costs of the Falkland Islands campaign will be met without any effect on Her Majesty's Government undertaking to secure an annual growth of 3 per cent. in real terms in the defence budget.
§ Mr. Blaker:As already announced, the costs of the Falklands campaign as well as the costs of replacing equipment lost and of any future garrison will be met out of moneys that will be in addition to the 3 per cent. annual rate of real growth.