H.M.S. "Hermes"

Oral Answers to Questions — Defence – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 3 December 1969.

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Photo of Rear-Admiral Morgan Morgan-Giles Rear-Admiral Morgan Morgan-Giles , Winchester 12:00, 3 December 1969

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what role is planned for H.M.S. "Hermes" after 1970.

Photo of Sir John Morris Sir John Morris Minister of State (Ministry of Defence) (Defence Equipment)

No decision has yet been taken about the future of H.M.S. "Hermes" after she has been phased out of her fixed wing flying task.

Photo of Rear-Admiral Morgan Morgan-Giles Rear-Admiral Morgan Morgan-Giles , Winchester

Without some ships to carry aircraft to protect the Fleet at sea, for what purpose will the command facilities in the new cruisers be used?

Photo of Sir John Morris Sir John Morris Minister of State (Ministry of Defence) (Defence Equipment)

We have canvassed this matter on a number of occasions. It will be important to have command facilities. The helicopters, the co-ordination with the fleet submarines and other ships—all these will make it necessary to have a command ship.

Photo of Mr Geoffrey Rippon Mr Geoffrey Rippon , Hexham

If no decision has yet been taken, how can the hon. Gentleman say that it is nonsense for the Opposition to suggest that they might still have a rôle?

Photo of Sir John Morris Sir John Morris Minister of State (Ministry of Defence) (Defence Equipment)

What I said was that the Opposition's policy for the carriers is nonsense. I also emphasised that there are three possibilities for the carriers. They are, as I said earlier to the right hon. and learned Gentleman, to scrap them, to sell them or to give them a new rôle. Each of these possibilities is still open. I said this in reply to an earlier question, and I wish that the right hon. and learned Gentleman had been listening.