HC Deb 09 May 1989 vol 152 cc407-9W
Mr. Foulkes

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what representations he has received concerning incidents involving submarines and fishing vessels.

Mr. Archie Hamilton

As I told the hon. Member on 11 April 1989 at column515, letters continue to be received from fishermen's organisations and from other interested groups about a number of incidents in which submarines are alleged to have been involved. The hon. Member himself raised this subject with the Royal Navy and the US Navy in Scotland yesterday during an all-party visit to Faslane and Holy Loch.

Mr. Janman

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the latest position regarding discussions between his Department, the port of Tilbury and Thurrock borough council regarding the use of the port of Tilbury by nuclear-powered Royal Navy submarines; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Archie Hamilton

As I said in my answer to the hon. Member for Clwyd, South-West (Mr. Jones) on 9 March at column677, my officials have had preliminary discussions with port and local authorities about visits to Tilbury by Royal Navy ships, including nuclear powered submarines. This remains the position. It would be premature to anticipate the outcome of these discussions at this stage.

44. Dr. Moonie

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he has any plans to update the Royal Navy's plans for evacuation and safety in the event of an accident to a nuclear submarine which involves an escape of radiation.

45. Mr. Doran

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he has any plans to update the Royal Navy's plans for evacuation and safety in the event of an accident to a nuclear submarine which involves an escape of radiation.

49. Ms. Walley

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he has any plans to update the Royal Navy's plans for evacuation and safety in the event of an accident to a nuclear submarine which involves an escape of radiation.

104. Mr. McFall

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he has any plans to update the Royal Navy's plans for evacuation and safety in the event of an accident to a nuclear submarine which involves an escape of radiation.

Mr. Archie Hamilton

All aspects of planning for accidents in Royal navy nuclear-powered submarines are kept under constant review.

109. Mr. Wigley

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many incidents have there been during the past 10 years in which allegations have been made of submarines fouling fishing nets in the Irish sea; and in how many of these alleged incidents it has been substantiated that United Kingdom submarines have been involved.

Mr. Archie Hamilton

Since 1982, the date from which information is held, we are able to trace 35 cases in which Royal Navy submarines are alleged to have been in collision with fishing vessels or their gear in the Irish sea, Clyde approaches and north Channel. Six of these allegations were substantiated following investigation.

Ms. Gordon

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what were the nature and circumstances of navigational problems encountered by Royal Navy nuclear-powered submarines at the port of Hull.

Mr. Archie Hamilton

Entry by submarines into the port of Hull was complicated by the tides there. In 1983, a nuclear-powered submarine had to turn back at the point of entering Hull as a safe entry could not be guaranteed in the bad weather conditions at the time. In 1985, another nuclear-powered submarine was exposed to the risk of slight external damage while it was being guided into the port. In the light of these incidents, and the emphasis we place on the safety of nuclear-powered vessels, we reluctantly decided that the navigational risks of nuclear-powered submarines visiting Hull under these circumstances outweighed the benefits of such visits, even though Hull was popular with submarine crews and previous visits had been a great success.