§ Mr. Foulkesasked the Secretary of State for Defence if the signals log of HMS Conqueror has been seen by any officials of his Department.
§ Mr. HeseltineOfficials have access to other sources, including copies of relevant signals and would have no need to refer to the signals log of HMS Conqueror. But I would refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 19 November, at column 84.
§ Mr. Foulkesasked the Secretary of State for Defence, if copies of the signals log of HMS Conqueror are available to him.
§ Mr. HeseltineAs I have already explained to the hon. Member, signals logs of submarines are destroyed as a matter of routine. If the logs have been destroyed they are not available to me. Until they have been destroyed they are available to me.
§ Mr. Foulkesasked the Secretary of State for Defence if the signals log of HMS Conqueror contains (a) the times of signals to and from Northwood and (b) the contents of signals to and from Northwood.
§ Mr. HeseltineThe signals log of a submarine contains copies of all signals sent and received by the submarine. All signals include the times of despatch.
§ Mr. Foulkesasked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list all formal reports, documents and logs aboard 227W HMS Conqueror during the Falklands conflict and for each one indicate (a) whether it is available to him, (b) where it is kept, (c) whether it has been seen by Ministers and (d) whether it has been seen by any officials in his Department.
§ Mr. HeseltineIt will require a detailed check to establish this information and I shall write to the hon. Gentleman.
§ Mr. Foulkesasked the Secretary of State for Defence when he now expects to receive the report of the board of inquiry into the disappearance of the log of HMS Conqueror.
§ Mr. HeseltineI hope in the near future.
§ Mr. Foulkesasked the Secretary of State for Defence on whose authority the board of inquiry into the loss of the log of HMS Conqueror was set up.
§ Mr. HeseltineCommander-in-Chief Fleet.