§ Mr. Ashdownasked to Secretary of State for Defence (1) what assistance was provided to the United States nuclear submarine Nathaniel Green by the United Kingdom in 1986; and if he will make a statement;
(2) whether he has information on how the United States nuclear ballistic missile submarine Nathaniel Green left United Kingdom water recently; and if he will make a statement;
(3) if he will detail what information he has received on incidents affecting United States nuclear submarines in United Kingdom waters and especially relating to the United States submarine Nathaniel Green; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. StanleyI refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley (Mr. Foulkes) on 9 May at column270. I understand that the USS Nathaniel Green left United Kingdom waters under her own power. We would expect any significant incident affecting United Kingdom interests involving USN nuclear submarines in United Kingdom waters to be reported to my Department by the United States authorities. The only such recent incident concerned the USS Nathaniel Green.