§ Mr. Dalyellasked the Secretary of State for Defence (1) pursuant to paragraph 221 of Cmnd. 8758, The Falklands Campaign: The Lessons, concerning fire hazards in ships, if he will take steps to arrange for PVC-covered cables in ships to be enclosed in steel ducts to reduce the dangers arising from fires;
60W(2) whether he will ensure that the measures to reduce fire hazards caused by the nature of the cabling in older ships, referred to in paragraph 221 of Cmnd. 8758, are applied to older and refitted ships as well as in new vessels.
§ Mr. Ian StewartThe small amount of PVC-covered cabling in older ships will be replaced as soon as it is practicable to do so. All other cables in service are already flame retardant and will be replaced when necessary by the new improved range of cabling.