The Gulf (Hansard, 18 June 1991)

§ Mr. Wilson
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many merchant vessels have been chartered by Her Majesty's Government for use in the Gulf in the period since 25 January; how many of these were registered in the United Kingdom; and if he will list(a) the rate of charter and (b) the normal charter rate in respect of each vessel.

§ Mr. Archie Hamilton
Seventy-five ships have been chartered in the period. Two were registered in the United Kingdom. Rates paid by Her Majesty's Government for the charter of ships are commercial in confidence. There is no definitive normal charter rate.

§ Mr. Wilson
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the availability of(a) British and (b) non-British crews willing to enter the Gulf before and during the period of hostilities; if he will list the instances of non-British crews, on vessels chartered by his Department, refusing to enter Gulf waters; and if he will establish an inquiry into the impact of (i) the availability of ships and (ii) the availability of seafarers on the military operation.

§ Mr. Archie Hamilton
No problems were reported over the availability of British or non-British crews before or during hostilities. There were no reports of non-British crews refusing to enter Gulf waters.
The Government continue to keep a close watch on the state of the British flagged merchant fleet and on the availability of ships and seafarers to support military operations.

§ Mr. Wilson
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on occurrences of operational or communications problems involving any of the foreign-flagged merchant vessels hired by Her Majesty's Government for service in the Gulf.

§ Mr. Archie Hamilton
No significant operational or communications problems involving foreign flagged merchant vessels hired by Her Majesty's Government have been reported.

Mr. O'Neill
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the RAF and the Army Air Corps provided support to foreign military forces during operations to liberate Kuwait.

§ Mr. Archie Hamilton
RAF and Army Air Corps aircraft provided a variety of assistance to coalition forces during Operation Granby, including air-to-air refuelling, airlift assistance and search and rescue support.