§ Mr. Austin Mitchellasked the Prime Minister whether the changes in the rules of engagements in May 1982 allowed for the sinking of the Argentine naval vessels anywhere outside the Argentine territorial waters regardless of their position vis-á-vis the task force.
§ The Prime Minister[pursuant to her reply, 21 February 1985, c. 526]: I assume the hon. Member is referring to the change in rules of engagement on 2 May 1982 which permitted HMS Conqueror to attack the General Belgrano. This change in rules of engagement, resulting from the indications of the threat posed by the Argentine navy, permitted attacks on Argentine warships outside the total exclusion zone, as well as within it, within certain geographical limits which, for operational reasons, it is still not in the public interest to disclose. The precise position and course of individual ships was not relevant in the overall assessment of the threat.