§ Mr. HancockTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if all the evidence held by his Department at the time of the inquiry into HMS Sheffield was put before the inquiry; [R] [42609]
(2) how many representations he has received in the last three years regarding the re-opening of the inquiry into the sinking of HMS Sheffield; and if he will make a statement; [R] [42611]
(3) what evaluation he has made of the evidence gathered in the last 12 months into the sinking of HMS Sheffield; and if he will set up a new inquiry; [R] [42610]
(4) if all the statements taken from the crew were later presented to the Board of Inquiry into the sinking of HMS Sheffield; and if he will make a statement. [R] [42607]
§ Mr. IngramAs I informed the hon. Member in my reply of 9 July 2001,Official Report, column 365W, the Board of Inquiry into the sad loss of HMS Sheffield was conducted to the highest professional standards. It was the responsibility of the Board of Inquiry to ensure that it had all the information it needed to reach its conclusions about the loss of HMS Sheffield and to support its report and recommendations. This included interviews with 98 members of Sheffield's company. The Board had access to all available information and considered all the evidence that it believed to be relevant. As I informed the hon. Member previously, much of the information put before the Board of Inquiry remains classified. I am satisfied that the Board of Inquiry was conducted in a professional and proper manner and that no useful purpose would be served by re-opening this tragic incident. I am not aware of any representations other than those made by the hon. Member regarding the re-opening of the inquiry into the sinking of HMS Sheffield but this information would not be held centrally.