§ Bob RussellTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his role is in the naming of Her Majesty's ships; and what his policy is in exercising that role. [135449]
§ Mr. IngramHer Majesty the Queen approves the names of warships on the recommendation of the First Sea Lord, as advised by the Ships' Names and Badges Committee and as endorsed by my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Defence.
Policy for naming ships of the Royal Navy is informed by a number of guiding principles. For example, many ship names have a long and illustrious heritage, and a name with a tradition of Royal Navy use is preferred. Other factors in making a selection include the number of battle honours associated with a name, and whether a name is already classically associated with a particular type of vessel. Alternatively, a ship's name might commemorate historically strong links between the Royal Navy and a particular town or district.