HC Deb 23 January 2001 vol 361 cc536-8W
Mr. Mackinlay

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many(a) war ships and (b) merchant marine ships sunk as a result of hostilities in the 20th Century, which are also war graves, are situated within (i) the United Kingdom's territorial waters and (ii) the waters of UK overseas territories; and if a list of such vessels is published; [146060]

(2) how many British (a) warships and (b) merchant marine ships sunk as a result of hostilities in the 20th Century, which are war graves, are situated within the territorial waters of the Irish Republic; and if a list of such vessels is published. [146059]

Dr. Moonie

There is no centrally held list of British wrecked military vessels that lie in UK territorial waters, international waters or the territorial waters of other countries.

There is no single source of reference which identifies all vessels lost in the service of the Admiralty or on Government Service since 1914. The returns to Parliament, following the end of both World Wars, Navy losses and Merchant Shipping losses, list some 12,000 vessels. No distinction is made between those vessels in Government Service or Mercantile vessels. Only one list identifies vessels where lives were lost. These records have not been updated in the intervening years.

The UK Hydrographic Office has records of those vessels located in the vicinity of the Irish Republic during surveys between 1840 to 1935. Records of subsequent sinking are obtained from Irish maritime sources. This list is not published but is available, at a charge, from the Hydrographic Office at Taunton, Somerset.

Mr. Laurence Robertson

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had with other foreign Ministers about the plundering of ocean war graves; and if he will make a statement. [145041]

Dr. Moonie

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Hereford (Mr. Keetch) on 26 October 2000,Official Report, column 159W.

Discussions continue with other like-minded Governments in the lead up to the next meeting of interested parties to the UNESCO Draft Convention on the Protection of Underwater Cultural Heritage in March/April 2001.

Mr. Mackinlay

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what action is being taken to agree and enforce an international convention to prevent the looting and trespassing by divers of sunken war ships and merchant vessels which are war graves; and if he will make a statement. [146062]

Dr. Moonie

My officials continue to negotiate through UNESCO for the inclusion of warships and, in particular military maritime graves in the Draft Convention on the Protection of Underwater Cultural Heritage.

Mr. Mackinlay

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what artefacts and structural parts have been removed from the sunken HMS Prince of Wales; who authorised their removal; and if he will make a statement. [146061]

Dr. Moonie

There are unsubstantiated reports that items have been removed from the wreck site of HMS Prince of Wales. Our High Commissions in Singapore and Malaysia have investigated these reports, but they remain unsubstantiated. Assistance in monitoring activities on the wreck has been sought form the Singapore and Malaysian authorities.

My Department has not authorised the removal of any item from this wreck.

Mr. Mackinlay

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what action is being taken to obtain bilateral agreement with(a) the USA, (b) Commonwealth countries, (c) the Republic of Ireland and (d) the former belligerent countries of the First and Second World Wars to prevent divers looting and trespassing on sunken war ships and merchant ships which are war graves, and situated within United Kingdom territorial waters. [146053]

Dr. Moonie

My Department continues to talk with many other countries in several different forums in order to take forward the protection of sunken military vessels. The issue of protection of military remains is presently under review and a consultation process is taking place. The consultation document will be issued to other Governments who may have military graves that lie in UK territorial water.