§ Mr. Dalyellasked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the purchase of the MV Astronomer from T. J. Harrison & Co. and its conversion to a Royal Fleet Auxiliary vessel.
§ Mr. PattieMV Astronomer is currently on charter to the Ministry from the owners. We are studying how best and most economically the requirement for a helicopter support vessel of this kind can be met in the longer term. Otherwise I have nothing to add to the statements made by my hon. Friend the Member for Pendle (Mr. Lee) on 31 October 1983—[Vol. 47, c. 305–6]—and 22 November 1983.—[Vol. 49, c. 90–91.]