AQO 1984/11-15

Mr Stewart Dickson
Alliance Party
East Antrim

Tabled Date: 03/05/2012
Answered On Date: 15/05/2012
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment what discussions her Department has had with the Ministry of Defence to ensure that HMS Caroline remains in Belfast.

Answer:

My Department has been in communication with a number of key stakeholders regarding the possible retention of HMS Caroline in Belfast. She has been in Belfast since 1924, she is part of the city and we want her to stay. To help inform the department an independent study was carried out to look at options for the ship.

That work is complete and it has shown that there are benefits in keeping the ship in Belfast but there are funding challenges. We are working closely with the National Museum of the Royal Navy to find a suitable way forward, these conversations are ongoing.