HC Deb 17 April 1985 vol 77 cc204-5W
Mr. Foulkes

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many naval vessels have been disposed of to Queenborough at Cairnryan or its predecessors for breaking up.

Mr. Lee

Since 1970, 11 ex-naval vessels have been sold to Ship-breaking (Queenborough) Ltd. for breaking up for scrap at Cairnryan. Two ex-aircraft carriers, HMS Eagle and HMS Ark Royal, were also broken up at Cairnryan by H. R. Vickers Ltd. and Steel Supply Company Ltd. respectively, which used the premises of Queenborough because their own facilities were not large enough. No records are available for the period prior to 1970.