§ Mr. Dalyellasked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the incident relating to flags in Thule and the latest position there.
250W
§ Mr. BlakerOn 20 June 1982 HMS Endurance removed Argentine personnel from Southern Thule and raised a Union flag. When HMS Hecate visited Thule on 19 December 1982 she found an Argentine flag flying at the base and the Union flag folded nearby. The Union flag was replaced and the Argentine one removed. We do not know when and how this exchange of flags took place, but we do not view the incident as a serious indication of Argentine intent to re-establish a presence on the dependencies. However, in view of the possibility that Argentina might seek to re-occupy the base on Southern Thule we have destroyed the buildings. The only structures now remaining are two beacons, a flagpole with a Union flag flying and a fully stocked refuge hut.
§ Mr. Dalyellasked the Secretary of State for Defence what are the reasons for the destruction of shelter on Thule.
§ Mr. BlakerThe structures destroyed comprised a meteorological station set up illegally by Argentina in 1976. This was done to prevent Argentine re-occupation of the station. We have preserved shelter on Southern Thule in the form of a refuge hut, sealed against the snow and fully stocked with provisions.