§ Mr. Warrenasked the Secretary of State for Defence what was the reason for granting an Argentine journalist, accompanied by a foreign photographer, permission to visit HMS Southampton in Portsmouth Dockyard on Thursday 24 February; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. WigginThe two journalists in question are working on a book on the Falklands operation, which will be published in Argentina and is intended to present to the Argentine public a balanced account. As part of their research they are conducting a series of interviews with Service men of both sides who were involved. In the hope of promoting our side of the story it was agreed that officers involved could grant personal interviews to these journalists if they were prepared to do so. Captain Salt was interviewed on board HMS Southampton, his present command, at Portsmouth on Wednesday 23 February.