§ Sir John Biggs-Davisonasked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement about the United Kingdom's part in the clearing of mines in the Red sea and Gulf of Suez.
§ Mr. StanleyHer Majesty's Government were pleased to be able to provide five mine counter-measures vessels and a support ship to meet a request from the Egyptian Government for assistance in clearance of mines from the important shipping lanes in the Gulf of Suez. Our task force has completed a search of the areas allocated to it and, having cleared the only mine of recent origin that was successfully located, is now returning to the United Kingdom. The operation was an excellent example of international co-operation in preserving freedom of navigation and of the skills of the Royal Navy in the mine counter-measures field.