§ GENERAL SIR GEORGE BALFOURasked the Surveyor General of the Ordnance, If, by the day the House meets after Easter, he will have ready a Return of the breech-loading guns to 31st March 1883, showing those actually on board ship, those ready in the gun wharfs available for the Navy, and those under the direct charge of the store and manufacturing departments, in different states of progress, distinguishing the guns completed with full allotments of projectiles and ammunition; also the proposed plan for turning out the breech-loading guns during the year 1883–4, with an approximate rough calculation of the cost of the several guns, ammunition, projectiles, and stores, up to 31st March 1883, and one for the intended operations in 1883–4; in the above, the calibres and weights of the several kinds of guns, and the numbers of each to be stated in the several divisions?
MR. BRAND,in reply, said, that he would be quite willing to give the hon. and gallant General privately all the information that was obtainable at the War Office. But the preparation of the Return would cause enormous labour, and it was not considered desirable in the interests of the Public Service to give publication to the details mentioned in the Question. Moreover, there would be an opportunity of making a general statement of the condition of the manufacture of ordnance when Vote 12 of the Army Estimates was considered in Committee.