§ COLONEL DENNY (Kilmarnock Burghs)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether the firms who purchased the old war vessels at the recent sale were themselves shipbreakers or were they agents acting for foreigners; if the latter, was it known to the Admiralty that these people had previously acted in the same way, subsequently disposing of the ships to foreigners; at whose request was the restriction as to non-removal from the United Kingdom removed from the contract in the special cases in which it was thought necessary, and how had the necessity disappeared; is the destination of the "Belleisle" ultimately a foreign country; and what is the name of the London firm to which she was sold.
§ THE CIVIL LORD OF THE ADMIRALTY (Mr. ARTHUR LEE,) Hampshire FarehamThe Answer to the first part of the Question is that they 763 were all shipbreakers with one exception, who was a purchaser well known to the Admiralty. He has previously bought ships which have ultimately been taken abroad. The restriction as to non-removal from the United Kingdom is dispensed with in certain cases, after due consideration by the Board, in order to increase the range of competition. The ultimate destination of the "Belleisle" is not known. She was sold to Mr. J. B. Carnham, of 132, Upper Thames Street, E.C., without any restrictions; but I may add that the vessel was in such a state that breaking up was the only course open to the purchaser.