§ Mr. Foulkesasked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish a copy of his letter of 29 November to the hon. Member for Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley in the Official Report.
§ Mr. HeseltineYes.
"Dear George,
You wrote to me on 14th November about HMS CONQUEROR'S control room log.
In my answer of 13th November to your written Question, I explained very fully the circumstances in which my Department and I became aware that HMS CONQUEROR'S control room log for this period of the Falklands Campaign was missing. I totally reject your suggestions that indications of the log's disappearance were available earlier or that there was any sinister motive behind an official asking to see the log.
On your second point, although I cannot confirm precisely the information contained in the control room log, since it is not available, I would expect it to contain details of HMS CONQUEROR's movements on 3rd May 1982. Indeed, as both Lord Trefgarne and I explained on 7th November, the log would contain routine readings of latitude and longitude, distance run, course, speed and depth, information which Lord Trefgarne was quite right to maintain would be of no value in the discussions that have been proceeding since the sinking of the Belgrano. As he and I also said, the submarine's operational activities were fully recorded in the Captain's narrative account. I also reject the suggestion that the Government has refused to detail the movements of HMS CONQUEROR on 3rd May: this, was covered in the Annex to the Prime Minister's letter to you of 19th September.
On the question of why the control room log was not submitted to Flag Officer Submarines with the Captain's account, I hoped that I had made it clear that, at the conclusion of a patrol, a submarine commander forwards to the appropriate authorities such detailed records as are needed for analysis. These do not normally include the control room log, which is retained on board the submarine until sent to my Department's records office. As Flag Officer Submarines had a detailed daily account of HMS CONQUEROR's operations during the Falklands Campaign, there was no reason for him to ask to see the control room log.
You also asked if I was content with the response of my officials in October to the apparent disappearance of the control room log. I can confirm I am entirely happy that they, and the Commander-in-Chief Fleet, took such action as was necessary to deal with the matter.
Finally, I have nothing to add for the moment to my undertaking to consider making a statement once the report of the 425W Board of Inquiry was available and had been considered by Commander-in-Chief Fleet and the Ministry of Defence. I can assure you that the matter is being dealt with as expeditiously as possible.
Michael Heseltine"
§ Mr. Foulkesasked the Secretary of State for Defence what documents were submitted to the Flag Officer Submarines by the commander of HMS Conqueror on his return to the United Kingdom.
§ Mr. StanleyI understand that the documents submitted to Flag Officer Submarines by the commanding officer of HMS Conqueror were his report of proceedings including, inter alia, his narrative account.
§ Mr. Foulkesasked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the collection of documents and information from members of the crew of HMS Conqueror during the two weeks spent in Faslane after its return from the Falklands campaign; and if the procedures used on that occasion represent the normal practice in respect of fleet submarines returning from patrol.
§ Mr. StanleyI understand that on her return to Faslane HMS Conqueror landed technical information and data for analysis in the usual way. It is standard practice to ensure that maximum value is derived from each submarine patrol for future operations. I also refer the hon. Member to the reply given to him by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence on 20 November, at column 84.
§ 16. Mr. Dalyellasked the Secretary of State for Defence why he has now referred the diary written by a member of the crew of HMS Conqueror during the Falklands war to the Director of Public Prosecutions; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. HeseltineAs I told the hon. Member for Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley (Mr. Foulkes) on 30 November, a copy of a diary which apparently was kept by a member of the crew of HMS Conqueror is in the possession of my Department. The diary contains classified information and it appears that its contents have been communicated to persons not authorised to receive such information. This constitutes a prima facie breach of the Official Secrets Acts. In the circumstances of this case my Department considered that it was a matter for reference to the Director of Public Prosecutions.
§ 20. Mr. Andrew F. Bennettasked the Secretary of State for Defence how many of the crew of HMS Conqueror on 1 July 1982 have now left the Royal Navy.
§ Mr. HeseltineTwo officers and six ratings.