§ Mr. CousinsTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Southampton, Itchen (Mr. Denham), 22 FebruaryOfficial Report, columns 477–78, if he will list the occasions and cost of conversion of merchant shipping for specialist naval use; and what was the nationality of ownership and registration, if not British, in each case.
§ Mr. AitkenConversions of merchant ships for naval use during the last 10 years were
HMS ENDURANCE formerly M V Polar Circle, a Norwegian ship, conversion completed 1992.RFA ARGUS formerly MV Contender Bezant, an Italian ship, conversion completed 1988.Costs are commercially confidential.Details of conversions of merchant ships carried out more than 10 years ago would be available only at disproportionate costs.
§ Mr. CousinsTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the tonnage of merchant shipping hired during the Gulf war, the number of ships involved, the cost to the Exchequer, and the nationality of ownership and registration.
§ Mr. Archie HamiltonA total of 162 dry cargo ships, with a total dead-weight of 1.8 million tonnes, were chartered for the movement of men and equipment to and from the Gulf at a total cost of £138 million. A number of ships undertook more than one voyage. In addition, 10 tankers, with a total dead-weight of 209,000 tonnes, were chartered at a total cost of £4.76 million. The numbers of vessels chartered by flag, is as follows: Antigua and 111W Barbuda (16), Bahamas (9), Belgium (1), Cyprus (16), Denmark (27), Egypt (1), Finland (2), France (2), Germany (10), Greece (1), Honduras (1), Hong Kong (1), Iceland (1), India (1), Italy (4), Malta (2), Netherlands (2), Netherlands, Antilles and Aruba (2), Norway (15), Panama (7), Qatar (1), Spain (1), St. Vincent and Grenadines (2), Sweden (7), United Kingdom (11), Union of Myanmar (1) and Vanuatu (1). The ultimate ownership of these vessels is not generally known to my Department as the charter is with the operator, who is not necessarily the owner.