§ Mr. R. Robinsonasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he has considered the possibility that a keener interest in the Navy might be stimulated by consistently following the policy of naming new ships of the Royal Navy 953W after British towns; whether there is any special reason for following any other naming policy, and, if so, what; and whether, as there are sufficient British coastal towns to supply names for ships for the Royal Navy, he will consider for the future the adoption of the policy of deriving the names of new ships of the Royal Navy entirely from the coastal towns of Great Britain?
Mr. CooperWhile it is appreciated that the naming of His Majesty's ships after British towns, coastal and otherwise, has a popular appeal which the Admiralty in past and present practice has not failed to recognise, I cannot agree that all new vessels should be so designated. In making selections regard must be paid to names which bear fine naval traditions and to names associated with the British Empire. My hon. Friend may rest assured, however, that consideration will continue to be given to the names of British towns, both coastal and inland.