§ SIR HENRY TYLER (Great Yarmouth)asked the Secretary of State for War, What steps have been taken to prevent risk from the firing of guns of similar construction to the 43-ton gun which recently failed, pending inquiry into the cause of failure, and the best means of strengthening such guns; also to state the names of any members of the Committee appointed to inquire into the recent failure of the 43-ton gun who have not been directly or indirectly concerned in the design, construction, consideration, or approval of guns of this description; and how many guns have been constructed, and how many guns have been issued and are in service, of similar construction to the 43-ton gun which recently failed, and at what cost per gun?
THE SECRETARY OF STATE (Mr. CAMPBELL-BANNERMAN)&c.) (Stirling,The guns will not be fired again, under ordinary circumstances, until strengthened by being chase-hooped, an operation which can be easily and rapidly effected. Fourteen guns of this class have been constructed. Three have been appropriated to the land service, and 11 to the Navy. The cost per gun is about £6,000. The Members of the Committee who have not been directly concerned in any previous consideration of questions affecting this gun are the President, Lieutenant General Sir Michael Biddulph, the Vice President, Admiral Ward, Captain Hammill, R.N., General Fraser, Colonel Baylay, Colonel Davies, Major Colquhoun, and Mr. Gledhill.