§ The Earl of Kimberleyasked Her Majesty's Government:
Why the WRNS do not have the same name for ranks as men serving in the Royal Navy.
§ The Minister of State for Defence Procurement (Lord Trefgarne)The reasons are historical. When the Women's Royal Naval Service was reformed in 1939 the Admiralty Board decided that members of the WRNS should not use Royal Navy rank or rating titles since they were not required to discharge the full duties of Royal Navy personnel. The matter was reviewed by the Ministry of Defence in 1974, when it was decided to make no change to the existing practice.