HC Deb 20 June 2000 vol 352 cc111-2W
Mr. Bob Russell

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 5 June 2000,Official Report, column 59W, on RMS St. Helena, for how long RMS St. Helena was made available for service during the Falklands conflict; and for how many days it was in the war zone.[125592]

Mr. Hill

RMS St. Helena was made available for Royal Navy charter between May and September 1982 but did not leave the UK until 13 June 1982. The ship was in the war zone for 17 days from 26 June 1982 to 12 July 1982 which was the end of the qualifying period.

Mr. Bob Russell

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many civilians served on RMS St. Helena during the Falklands conflict; of these how many were from(a) St. Helena, (b) the Falklands, (c) the United Kingdom and (d) elsewhere; and how many have been awarded the South Atlantic Medal.[125593]

Mr. Hill

Approximately 32 civilians served on RMS St. Helena at the time of the Falklands War. Of these, 21 were from St Helena, none from the Falklands, 11 were from the United Kingdom and none from elsewhere. None of these people have been awarded the South Atlantic Medal.