HC Deb 26 January 1984 vol 52 cc695-8W
Mr. McNamara

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what was the cost of his return flight from the Falklands to the United Kingdom by Nimrod; and what is the average cost of transporting a member of the armed services from the Falkland Islands to the United Kingdom (a) by air by Hercules, (b) by air and sea and (c) by sea.

Mr. Stanley

I shall answer shortly.

Mr. Eldon Griffiths

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on his visit to the Falkland Islands.

Mr. Heseltine

The principal purpose of my visit to the Falkland Islands from 19 to 22 January was to meet the members of all three services stationed in the islands and to see at first hand their accommodation and equipment. In addition to discussions with the Military Commissioner, Major-General Spacie, and his staff, I was able to visit Army and Royal Air Force units in all parts of the islands, as well as ships of the Royal Navy and the Royal Fleet Auxiliary. The equipment and accommodation available for our forces is being rapidly improved, and I was impressed by the excellent morale and high state of readiness wherever I went. Construction of the new airfield at Mount Pleasant is proceeding on time and according to plan.

I also had the opportunity to have discussions with the Civil Commissioner, Sir Rex Hunt, and members of the Legislative and Executive Councils, as well as other residents of the islands. They confirmed that relations between the garrison and civil community were very good. I suggested to them that the presence of the garrison presented considerable opportunities for the civil community in providing some of the supplies which now had to be shipped from the United Kingdom.

My visit also enabled me to make a brief stay in Ascension island and to see the outstanding contribution made by the RAF station there to the operation of the vital airbridge link which supplies our garrison in the Falklands. On the return journey I was able to participate in a non-stop flight of 17½ hours by an RAF Nimrod aircraft which had just completed a week's operations based at RAF Stanley, which underlined the great enhancement to our worldwide defence capability which air-to-air refuelling provides.

Mr. Dalyell

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what was the operating cost of the vessel Norland in 1983, providing a link between Ascension island and the Falklands; and what was the payment to North Sea Ferries for the use of the Norland.

Mr. Stanley

[pursuant to his answer, 24 January 1984, c. 456]: The Norland was a requisitioned ship which was returned to the owner in April 1983. Costs paid to the owner of a requisitioned vessel are a commercially confidential matter between the Ministry of Defence and the owner concerned. Information on costs incurred by the Ministry of Defence in respect of a requisitioned vessel over and above those paid to the owner are not available in the form requested as these costs are not in all respects attributable to individual vessels.

Mr. Dalyell

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what was the cost of the vessel St. Edmund's Falklands-related work during 1983; and how much has been paid to Sea Link for the use of the St. Edmund.

Mr. Stanley

[pursuant to his answer, 24 January 1984, c. 456]: The St. Edmund was a requisitioned ship which was purchased by the Ministry of Defence in March 1983, and was subsequently operated on behalf of the Ministry of defence by the original owner. Costs paid to the owner of a requisitioned vessel and costs subsequently paid to the former owner to operate a vessel on behalf of the Ministry of Defence are a commercially confidential matter between the Ministry of Defence and the owner or former owner concerned. Information on additional costs incurred by the Ministry of Defence in respect of this vessel are not available in the form requested as these costs are not in all respects attributable to individual vessels.

Mr. Dalyell

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what was the cost of the Falklands-related work of the vessel Cunard Countess, operating between Ascension island and the Falklands; and how much was paid to Cunard in 1983 for the use of the Cunard Countess.

Mr. Stanley

[pursuant to his answer, 24 January 1984, c. 456]: Costs paid to the owner of a chartered vessel are a commercially confidential matter between the Ministry of Defence and the owner concerned.

Information on costs incurred by the Ministry of Defence in respect of a chartered vessel over and above those paid to the owner are not available in the form requested as these costs are not in all respects attributable to individual vessels.

Mr. Dalyell

asked the Secretary of State for Defence for what purposes and at what cost he has chartered the vessel Ailsa Princess.

Mr. Stanley

[pursuant to his answer, 24 January 1984, c. 456]: The vessel Ailsa Princess was chartered for mine-laying trials. Costs paid to the owner of a chartered vessel are a commercially confidential matter between the Ministry of Defence and the owner concerned.

Mr. Dalyell

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how much he paid the Norwegian owners for the charter of the cargo vessel Sand Shore for Falklands work in 1983.

Mr. Stanley

[pursuant to his answer, 24 January 1984, c. 456]: Costs paid to the owner of a chartered vessel are a commercially confidential matter between the Ministry of Defence and the owner concerned.

Mr. Dalyell

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how much he paid the Danish owners of the vessel Annette S for the Falklands-related work in 1983.

Mr. Stanley

[pursuant to his answer, 24 January 1984, c. 456] The Annette S was not used by the Ministry of Defence in 1983.

Mr. Dalyell

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how much he paid the owners of the Baltic Ferry for work in and around the Falklands in 1983.

Mr. Stanley

[pursuant to his answer, 24 January 1984, c. 456]: Costs paid to the owner of a chartered vessel are a commercially confidential matter between the Ministry of Defence and the owner concerned.

Mr. Dalyell

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what was the cost of operating the vessel Rangatira in and around the Falklands in 1983.

Mr. Stanley

[pursuant to his answer, 24 January 1984, c. 456]: The Rangatira was a requisitioned ship which was chartered by the Ministry of Defence in April 1983. Costs paid to the owner of a requisitioned or a chartered vessel are a commercially confidential matter between the Ministry of Defence and the owner concerned. Information on costs incurred by the Ministry of Defence in respect of a requisitioned or a chartered vessel over and above those paid to the owner are not available in the form requested as these costs are not in all respects attributable to individual vessels.

Mr. Dalyell

asked the Secretary of State for Defence for what Falkland-related purposes the Scottish Eagle has been used in 1983; and at what cost.

Mr. Stanley

[pursuant to his answer, 24 January 1984, c. 456]: The Scottish Eagle was chartered for the supply of ships' fuel. Costs paid to the owner of a chartered vessel are a commercially confidential matter between the Ministry of Defence and the owner concerned.

Information on costs incurred by the Ministry of Defence in respect of a chartered vessel over and above those paid to the owner are not available in the form requested as these costs are not in all respects attributable to individual vessels.

Mr. Dalyell

asked the Secretary of State for Defence for what purposes the vessel Stenor Inspector was used in the south Atlantic in 1983; and what was the payment made to her owners for the use of the vessel.

Mr. Stanley

[pursuant to his answer, 24 January 1984, c. 456]: The Stenor Inspector was chartered as a forward repair ship in support of naval units of the Falkland Islands garrison. Costs paid to the owner of a chartered vessel are a commercially confidential matter between the Ministry of Defence and the owner concerned.