§ Mr. Dalyellasked the Secretary of State for Defence why it took his Department until 12 March to reply to the request made by the Prime Minister to his predecessor on 8 March as to how quickly Royal Navy ships could be deployed to the Falkland Islands if required, as mentioned in paragraph 153 of the Franks report.
§ Mr. HeseltineI shall write to the hon. Member.
§ Mr. Dalyellasked the Secretary of State for Defence why the date of receipt in his Department of the copy of the letter from the British defence attaché in Buenos Aires to the governor of the Falkland Islands, described in paragraph 150 of the Franks report as being about 9 March, is not known precisely.
§ Mr. BlakerThe precise date of receipt was not self-evident on the relevant departmental file that was sent to the Falkland Islands Review Committee. It was in fact received in the Ministry of Defence on 9 March.