§ MR. BARKER (Penryn and Falmouth)To ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether facilities are given to enable foreign countries to acquire disused and obsolete ships of war which are offered for sale by auction; and, if so, whether the First Lord of the Admiralty will take steps to prevent such warships being acquired by foreign countries.
38 (Answered by Mr. Edmund Robertson.) Facilities are not specially given to enable foreign countries to acquire obsolete ships of war offered for sale by auction. Such ships are usually offered at public auction at His Majesty's dockyards, and except in the case of those of fighting value, are sold without restriction of any kind.