§ Captain W. Elliotasked the Civil Lord of the Admiralty if he will make a statement about the future rôle of the Royal Naval Minewatching Service.
§ Mr. C. Ian Orr-EwingHer Majesty has approved that the title of the Royal34W Naval Minewatching Service shall be changed to Royal Naval Auxiliary Service in recognition of the varied and increasing responsibilities which it would undertake in war.
The new Royal Naval Auxiliary Service will take over the existing responsibilities of the Royal Naval Minewatching Service for minewatching duties and for providing the basic support staff for naval organisations installed in commercial ports of the United Kingdom in time of war.
In addition, the new Service will man, to the greatest possible extent, the naval organisation required in this country to control the movements of merchant ships in wartime.
The Royal Naval Auxiliary Service will contribute to naval defence both directly by performing these duties and, indirectly, by releasing active Service ratings and reservists for first line duties elsewhere.