HC Deb 02 November 1987 vol 121 c594W
Mr. Galbraith

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what was the date on which the Royal Yacht Britannia was last tested operationally in her role as a Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve auxiliary hospital ship.

Mr. Freeman

Her Majesty's Yacht Britannia's declared wartime role is as a naval hospital ship: she has no formal connection with the Royal Naval Reserve. Although Britannia has not been involved in operations as a hospital ship, she has exercised this role on a number of occasions and, in January 1986, she provided valuable medical facilities during the evacuation of civilian refugees from Aden.