§ Mr. WATTasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether, in the sale of the three obsolete vessels to be sold on the 11th inst. the breaking-up condition is to be insisted on by his Department; and, if so, whether he has formed any estimate of what this condition will cost the country in relation to these three vessels, and will he state it to the House?
§ Mr. McKENNAThe sale conditions in the case of the two obsolete battleships which will be offered by auction on the 11th inst., namely, "Collingwood" and "Rodney," will include a breaking-up clause. The third vessel, the gunboat "Snap," will be offered without any restriction as to breaking up. As stated in reply to the hon. Member's similar question of 14th May, 1907, it is not possible to say whether the breaking-up conditions will make any difference to the price likely to be realised.