§ 123. Mr. Peter Freemanasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty why the yacht "Cortynia," which was requisitioned and served as a wireless base ship during the war, has been sold to a Greek firm; and what was the amount received by the Government Disposals Board.
Mr. DugdaleThis yacht was requisitioned in 1939, and was subsequently acquired by His Majesty's Government. When no longer required, she was offered to her original owner in this country, who did not, however, wish to re-purchase her. After other yacht owners whose yachts had been lost on war service had been given an opportunity to acquire her, she was eventually sold as and where she lay to a gentleman, understood to be a Greek subject, at a price which was considered by the Government selling agency to be satisfactory in the light of her age and condition. I regret that it would be contrary to accepted policy to disclose the contract price, but I may say that it exceeded that suggested by a recognised professional yacht valuer who had been asked to advise on the price.