§ MR. POWELLsaid, he would beg to ask the Secretary of State for Wan, Whether it be true that on a recent occasion when trials were made at Shoeburyness to ascertain the quality of Iron Plates or Bars supplied under contract by the Millwall Iron Company, certain Plates or Bars under trial were found to be heated, such heating having been effected without the permission and without the knowledge of the Commandant or any other responsible Government officer; if so, whether inquiry has been made into the circumstances. Whether he will lay upon the table any Correspondence which followed the discovery that the Iron had been heated; and, whether it is proposed to take steps with a view to more efficient custody of Iron Plates daring trials?
§ SIR JOHN PAKINGTONsaid, in reply, that he was very sorry to say it was true that at the recent trials at Shoeburyness certain plates or bars under trial were found to be heated, and this had been done without the permission or knowledge of the Commandant or any other Government officer. He would have no objection to lay upon the table copies of a letter from the Colonel Commandant and his (Sir John Pakington's) reply, being the only correspondence that took place on the subject. The occurrence referred to had been discovered by the vigilance of the Colonel Commandant.
§ GENERAL DUNNEsaid, he would beg to ask whether the bars at Shoeburyness had been ever heated by the permission of the Colonel Commandant?
§ SIR JOHN PAKINGTONsaid, he believed that occasionally, under peculiar circumstances, the iron had been heated for trial. But in those cases permission from the Commandant had been given.