§ 38. Sir Robert Youngasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether there is any special objection to local urban districts throughout the country being permitted to name the war vessels, for the construction of which they have secured large sums of money during the warship savings weeks now becoming popular in many localities?
§ The Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty (Sir Victor Warrender)In view of the general interest which I know is taken in this matter, I have prepared a detailed answer to my hon. Friend's Question, and since it is rather long I will, with his permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Sir R. YoungWill not this idea help to popularise the Navy in the inland centreis?
§ Sir V. WarrenderWhen the hon. Gentleman sees the answer he will see everything set out very comprehensively.
§ Following is the reply:
§ The Question has been carefully considered, but it has been found impracticable to name ships after districts which have subscribed certain sums to Government securities, because
- (a) there are not enough vessels of each type to permit the allocation of a warship of the appropriate size to each town, and to ma ke distinctions would naturally be invidious and undesirable.
- (b) it is necessary, for administrative reasons, to assign distinctive groups of names to each class of warship;
- (c) the practice of naming vessels after towns or localities would ultimately result in the elimination of the use of traditional names with their historical associations and battle honours, on which the Navy sets great store.
§ It was for these reasons that the Admiralty sanctioned the scheme under which a town or locality can "adopt" a warship already in service, or about to commission, and of a type commensurate with the sum subscribed.