§ Mr. Austin Mitchellasked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the rank of the most senior officer known to have seen the log book of HMS Conqueror after it left the ship.
§ Mr. HeseltineThat is a matter for the board of inquiry.
§ Mr. Austin Mitchellasked the Secretary of State for Defence what are the terms of reference of the court of inquiry into the loss of the log book of HMS Conqueror; and by when and to whom it is to report.
§ Mr. HeseltineThe board of inquiry is to inquire into the circumstances attending the apparent disappearance of Conqueror's control room log. It will report to the Commander in Chief Fleet when it has reached its findings.
§ Mr. Austin Mitchellasked the Secretary of State for Defence when the loss of the navigator's log book of HMS Conqueror was first discovered; and by whom the loss was notified.
§ Mr. Gouldasked the Secretary of State for Defence when was the loss of the log book from HMS Conqueror first discovered; and by whom.
§ Mr. HeseltineThe first indications that the control room log could be missing appeared in the first week of October when an official in my Department asked to see it in the context of answering parliamentary inquiries.
§ Mr. Austin Mitchellasked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will call in the Metropolitan Police to investigate the loss of the log book from HMS Conqueror.
§ Mr. HeseltineThe disappearance of HMS Conqueror's log is being investigated by a Royal Navy board of inquiry. Until its report is available, no consideration can be given as to whether the Metropolitan police should be involved.