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HMS "Endurance": Future
(LORDS]
Lord Harmar-Nicholls: My Lords. on the question of the ultimate decision. is the indecision arising from possible doubts on the structure of HMS "Endurance itself, or the difficulty of getting what is called a modern replacement?
The Earl of Arran: My Lords, a very serious structural survey is now being undertaken. As I have already said, no decision can be made until the results of that survey are available.
Lord Williams of Elvel: My Lords. is the noble Earl aware that the answers he gives from the Dispatch Box on behalf of the Government create serious doubt in the minds of your Lordships, and elsewhere. Is it not time that the Government took a firm decision that if the existing ship-and we agree she is oid-cannot sail to the Antarctic, a support ship for the British Antarctic Survey is necessary not only for the Antarcuc survey but for the reasons given by my nobie friend Lord Callaghan of Cardiff?
The Earl of Arran: My Lords. I hear the noble Lord. Lord Williams. very clearly on this but, as I have just tried to indicate to your Lordships. such possibilities are, and will be, taken very carefully into account before a conclusion is reached.
Lord Chalfont: My Lords, can the Minister comment on reports that part of the delay in this decision is caused by the problem of deciding upon which vote HMS "Endurance" should be cared? There are arguments about whether it should be there for the Antarctic survey, for Foreign Office purposes or for Ministry of Defence purposes. If there is anything in this report. is it not time that somebody knocked some heads together?
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The Earl of Arran: My Lords, obviously a decision as regards the future of HMS "Endurance" will be! taken as soon as possible. As I have aiready said, full consultation will take place between the Foreign Office and the Ministry of Defence.
Baroness Strange: My Lords, is my noble friend the Minister aware that the inhabitants of the Falkland Islands are very keen that either HMS "Endurance” or a ship of similar calibre should be in the South Atlantic?
The Earl of Arran: My Lords. I am certain that the feelings of the islanders will also be taken into consideration in this matter.
Viscount Mountgarret: My Lords. I am not sure that the question of my noble friend Lord Boyd-Carpenter was answered specifically. It required a straightforward "yes" or "no". Either HMS “Endurance" will endure or, if not, will the noble Earl kindly indicate that she will be replaced by a ship that will endure?
The Earl of Arran: My Lords. I have to make clear to my noble friend that no decision has yet been taken on a replacement.
Lord Buxton of Alsa: My Lords. does my noble friend realise that it is now public knowledge that two leading departments of the Government disagree on
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Libraries
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this matter, as they did in 1981? Does he agresat it really is necessary to avoid any further embar hent both nationally and internationally and that it is time for the Prime Minister to intervene and sort out the matter, as ultimately had to happen in 1982?
The Earl of Arran: My Lords. I have to say to my noble friend, as I have already said many times. that full consultation will take place between the Foreign Office and the Ministry of Defence.
Lord Cochrane of Cults: My Lords, to raise a new
HMS "Endurance" and our influence in sovereignty in point: does the Minister agree that the purpose of
the Antarctic would be clearer if she were to be described in future as the British Antarctic territory's patrol ship instead of merely as an ice patrol ship.
The Earl of Arran: My Lords. that is certainly an interesting suggestion.
Lord Shackleton: My Lords, may I ask the noble Eari a question to which he may or may not have an answer? Is he aware that a perfectly suitable ship, at a reasonable price-the "Polar Circie" has been offered and is available. Has the Admiralty or Ministry of Defence considered that possibility? I can give the Minister the details as I have them here. It is a very suitable ship and very much better than HMS "Endurance". What has happened to any considera- tion of that vessel?
The Earl of Arran: My Lords. I am aware of that offer, but I can certainly say that the Ministry of Defence has not processed that particular option. However, we are aware that it does exist.
2.59 p.m.
Libraries
The Viscount of Falkland asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will support any pians by local authorities to transfer public libraries to private enterprise.
Lord Hesketh: No. my
Lords.
The Viscount of Falkland: My Lords. I thank the noble Lord for that reply. I am not sure whether it will
library is in some cases almost a lifeline when they lose reassure old people in particular. for whom the public
their mobility. Does he feel that the Government are fulfilling their obligation under the Public Libraries and Museums Act 1964 to maintain an efficient and comprehensive service? If there is a move towards transferring public libraries to private enterprise, will the Government be able to fulfil that obligation?
Lord Hesketh: My Lords, the noble Viscount has in some ways anticipated my reply. In the Public Libraries and Museums Act 1964 this issue is sacrosanct. The reality is that, if there is a possibility of competitive tendering to increase efficiency and to provide more funds elsewhere, the Government