§ Mr. TrotterTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what has been the number of merchant ships escorted each year by the Armilla patrol, distinguishing between(a) those registered in the United Kingdom, (b) those not so registered but flying the Red Ensign and (c) those which were in neither category.
Mr. HamiltonThe Armilla patrol's operational pattern has involved accompaniment rather than escort of merchant vessels in the Gulf. In 1987, when the policy began, 405 transits by entitled merchant vessels were accompanied by Armilla warships. For 1988 up to 31566W October, when accompaniment ceased, the corresponding figure is 621. It would not be possible to divide the total figure of 1,026 accompanied transits by country of registration and flag at the time without disproportionate cot.