HMS “Ocean”: Hurricane Relief

Lord Marlesford Excerpts

Thursday 14th September 2017 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Goldie]

The difference is that I know it.

My Lords, the serious point is that a devastating natural disaster has occurred in the Caribbean, affecting many hundreds of thousands of people. Those of us who have watched the footage on television must be appalled at the impact on people and their lives. It is important that we pay tribute to everybody who has been involved in responding to this extraordinary situation but do so with willingness, commitment and a resolve to get things better as quickly as possible.

[Lord Marlesford (Con)]

My Lords, obviously resources are an important aspect of this problem. To what extent are the costs of deploying HMS “Ocean” in similar circumstances—for emergency aid—repaid to the MoD from the aid budget?

[Baroness Goldie]

I do not have a specific breakdown on that issue. I undertake to write to my noble friend if I can elicit more information.