§ Lord Marlesfordasked Her Majesty's Government:
When the Government of the day announced that the present Royal Yacht "Britannia" was to be constructed, where the announcement was made and by which Minister.
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence (Earl Howe)The decision to build "Britannia" was announced by means of a press notice issued by the Admiralty on 8th October 1951, although provision for a Royal Yacht in place of the "Victoria and Albert III" was first announced by the First Lord of the Admiralty, Lord Stanhope, in the Statement to Accompany Navy Estimates on 23rd February 1939.