§ Commander Nobleasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether consideration will be given to preserving at Portsmouth a battleship, veteran of both wars, in a similar manner to H.M.S. "Victory"; and what is the estimated additional yearly cost if this ship was also used as an accommodation ship instead of one of those so used at present.
Mr. DugdaleProposals for maintaining a battleship as a relic, similar to H.M.S. "Victory," have been considered after both World Wars. It has been decided that the scheme is not feasible for many reasons. Such a ship would either occupy valuable berthing space alongside or would indefinitely occupy a capital ship dock which cannot be spared. To preserve a steel ship against deterioration and to keep her presentable would require constant work and expense and would make an unjustifiable demand on manpower. The possible solution of combining the duty of a floating accommodation ship with those of a relic has also been considered. To be of any value as an accommodation ship, however, a battleship would require extensive alteration to provide classrooms, messing accommodation, etc. Furthermore, the public could not be given constant access to what would be in fact a Naval Establishment. In these circumstances I have not thought I would be justified in having the additional annual cost calculated.