Mr. Gareth ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress has been made in offering protection to military maritime graves. [73461]
§ Dr. MoonieI refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave on 9 November 2001,Official Report, column 435W, to my hon. Friend the Member for Hendon (Mr. Dismore). A Statutory Instrument (SI) was made on 9 July 2002 which prohibits intrusive activity without licence on 11 vessels: HMS Bulwark, HMS Dasher, HMS Formidable, HMS Hampshire, HMS Natal, HMS A7, HMS Vanguard, HMS Affray, HMS Exmouth, HMS Royal Oak and H5, and in addition the U-boat U 12, as representative of all U-boats lost in United Kingdom territorial waters. The SI prohibits intrusive activity without licence by UK national on a further five vessels: HMS Hood, HMS Prince of Wales, HMS Repulse, HMS Gloucester and RFA Sir Galahad which lie in international waters. These regulations come into force on 30 September 2002.