§ Mr. PENRY WILLIAMSasked whether there had been any, and, if so, what, modification of the conditions of sale of old and obsolete warships since July, 1910; and if it was intended to make a further modification in the conditions of sale in the case of the "Nile" and "Trafalgar," advertised for auction on 4th April next?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAThere are four sets of conditions of sale of obsolete ships. Ships sold under what are known as "Conditions A" must be wholly broken up in the United Kingdom. Ships sold under Conditions A—as modified and brought into use for the sale of H.M.S. "Howe" (aged twenty-one years) in October, 1910—must be wholly broken up, but only certain specified work need be done in the United Kingdom. Ships sold under Conditions B must be wholly broken up, but not necessarily in the United Kingdom. Ships sold under Conditions C are sold without restriction. It was proposed to sell the "Nile" (aged twenty years) and the "Trafalgar" (aged twenty-one years) by auction on 4th April under Conditions B, but since that decision was arrived at it has been found impracticable to prepare these two ships for sale as early as was expected, and they have therefore been withdrawn from the advertisement of the forthcoming sale.
§ Sir C. KINLOCH-COOKEWhat proportion of ships broken up have been broken up in the United Kingdom?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAI must have notice of that.