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Hms "Achilles"

Volume 951: debated on Tuesday 6 June 1978

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asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will take steps to seek to acquire the former HMS "Achilles" from the Indian Government, which has ceased to use her as their flagship after 30 years, so that she may be preserved in the United Kingdom as a memorial to those who served in her and HMS "Ajax" and HMS "Exeter" in the Battle of the River Plate, 1939;and if he will seek to assist other proposals to this end.

I do not plan to try to acquire the former HMS "Achilles" from the Indian Government. I have every sympathy with bodies wishing to preserve such ships, but it would be inappropriate to use Defence votes for such a purpose.