asked the First Lord of the Admiralty why the battleship "Hibernia," of the King Edward VII class, which cost upwards of a million sterling to build and equip, has been sold to Germany for breaking up; if there are a number of well-qualified firms in this country who could have undertaken the work, which would have been the means o of finding employment for a number of British workmen; and if he will take action in the matter?

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply of to-day to the hon. Member for West Middlesbrough (Mr. T. Thomson).