28. Sir C. K I NLOCH-COOKEasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he will say what is the policy of the Board of Admiralty with regard to the breaking-up of ships in Devonport Dockyard; is the work to be confined to destroyers or will any of the capital ships now offered for sale be broken-up in that yard; and, if so, how many?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAIt is not at present proposed to break-up any other vessels than destroyers at Devonport. We have distributed the work at our disposal between the various Royal yards as carefully as possible. Devonport, I may say, has a considerable share of the repair work now being executed, and one light cruiser under construction.
§ Sir C. KINLOCH-COOKEWill the right hon. Gentleman answer the last part of the question—as to the capital ships offered for sale, and whether or not they are to go to private yards?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAThey will either go to a private yard or be broken-up in the Royal yards. For the moment, as the work is at Devonport, we do not propose to send any but destroyers there to be broken-up.