§ Major WHELERasked the First Lord of the Admiralty what steps were taken to sell H.M.S. "Hibernia" to British firms to be broken up before she was sold to a German firm?
§ Commander EYRES-MONSELLThe "Hibernia" was originally sold to a British firm in November, 1920, for breaking up in this country, but owing to the severe depression in the steel trade which occurred early in 1921 the firm did not complete the purchase. Subsequent efforts to dispose of the "Hibernia" and other large warships for breaking up in930W this country were defeated by the inability of shipbreakers to take the work in hand during 1921 or to pay anything but a very low price, owing to the adverse trade conditions. Eventually, owing to the urgent necessity for getting rid of surplus vessels which were occupying valuable berths in the dockyards and involving heavy maintenance charges, the vessel was sold to a British company without any condition that she should be broken up in this country.