§ 87. Mr. BASIL PETOasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether his attention has been drawn to the judgment of the court of inquiry into the loss of the "Vernon II," with four lives, where it was found that the loss of this vessel was due to her age, condition, and general unseaworthiness, the court being of opinion that she could never have been made seaworthy and expressing regret that there was no co-ordination between the Admiralty and the Board of Trade in the disposal of obsolete war vessels proceeding to sea; and, if so, whether it is intended to act upon the recommendation of the court that no such vessels carrying a crew should be allowed to begin a voyage without the authority of the Board of Trade?
The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the ADMIRALTY (Mr. Davidson)I have been informed of this judgment and 2411 of the opinion expressed by the court. An arrangement in the sense of the recommendation made by the court had been concluded before the inquiry began, and this fact was intimated in court during the course of the proceedings.