§ Mr. CohenTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the incident in early December when a Royal Navy vessel was damaged and had to return to Faslane; and whether any inquiry has been instigated.
§ Mr. Archie HamiltonNo Royal Navy vessel returned to Faslane due to damage during December.
§ Mr. CohenTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are his plans to insert a magnetic facility in the middle of the loch at Faslane; for how long this facility would be in use per annum; and what restrictions will apply to those who live on boats or sail yachts on the loch.
§ Mr. Archie HamiltonIn order to remove the magnetic signature, which is acquired by all steel-hulled vessels, submarines are required to undergo periodic treatments. While existing arrangements meet the present requirement, these will be incapable of treating the larger Vanguard class of submarine. A new magnetic treatment facility is, therefore, required and this will be permanently located at a position in the Gareloch some 305 metres off Rowmore Point which meets the operational requirement and is sufficiently far away from other constructions with a steel content.
Following completion, which is planned for the end of 1992, up to 30 treatments per year are expected to be necessary with each treatment likely to last up to two days. It will be necessary to establish an exclusion zone around the facility of 160m to the west and north. To the east, the exclusion zone will join the existing prohibited zone around the Faslane base. The resulting proposed amendment to the Ministry of Defence byelaws will be the subject of consultation and advertisement in the normal way. Outside the prohibited zone, it is not expected that there will be any restrictions on those who live on boats or sail yachts on the loch; a residual channel will allow navigation to and from Garelochhead.