HL Deb 15 June 1948 vol 156 cc755-6

2.35 p.m.

EARL BEATTY

My Lords, I beg leave to ask His Majesty's Government the question standing in my name on the Order Paper.

[The question was as follows:

To ask His Majesty's Government, whether they have any statement to make on the reasons for altering the traditional colour of His Majesty's ships in peace time.]

THE FIRST LORD OF THE ADMIRALTY (VISCOUNT HALL)

My Lords, trials have recently been carried out with a synthetic resin paint on a few of His Majesty's ships in place of the old-style paint. In addition to saving linseed oil, which is both scarce and expensive, the new paint is expected to provide a better finish, reduce fire risks and considerably increase durability, which will mean a substantial saving in expenditure. So far, however, we have not been able to produce the paint in the traditional naval colour but are continuing our efforts to do so. In the meantime the new paint is not being used.

EARL BEATTY

While thanking the First Lord for his reply and appreciating the necessity for economy, I hope that he will pursue his efforts to see that the paint used in future will still be in the traditional grey.

EARL HOWE

My Lords, before the First Lord answers, may I ask him whether it is not a fact that the grey paint was originally selected for conditions of visibility, and that the new style of paint would not be so suitable as the old style for the reduced visibility we usually have in home waters? May I also ask the First Lord whether it is not the fact that the new-style paint is concocted according to a Japanese prescription?

VISCOUNT HALL

My Lords, I will certainly see that, so far as possible, we adhere to tradition in colour, as in most other things. The grey colour was selected so long ago as 1901 and has been retained for the Home Fleet, though there have been various colours for some of the fleets on other stations. So far as we are concerned, the colour is very suitable and unless there are strong naval reasons for a change, then, of course, the traditional colour will remain.

2.37 p.m.

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