HC Deb 12 June 1893 vol 13 cc770-1
MR. W. ALLAN (Gateshead)

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty the prices quoted by, and name of, each firm tendering for the following vessels lately sold by the Admiralty, namely:— Rover, Watch Vessel No. 28, Eagle, Otter, Orontes Victoria, and Procris; and to what firm or firms were they sold?

SIR U. KAY-SHUTTLEWORTH

I shall be glad to give to my hon. Friend a list of the firms who purchased the vessels named in his question, and of the prices received for them. It would not be consistent with the practice of the Admiralty to state the amounts of the unsuccessful tenders.

MR. ALLAN

Could not the ships be sold by auction instead of being tendered for?

MR. HANBURY (Preston)

Are these tenders put out to open competition or only offered to a few firms?

MR. FORWOOD

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the system of selling by auction was tried and had to be abandoned?

SIR U. KAY-SHUTTLEWORTH

I think that notice should be given of all these questions. If the hon. Member will refer to the records of the Public Accounts Committee he will find that the auction system has been tried.