§ MR. MUNDELLA (Sheffield, Brightside)asked the Secretary of State for War, If he can state the total amount of steel produced in the Government Factories at Woolwich in the years 1884, 1885, and 1886 respectively; and, what has been the heaviest weight of any single casting in each of those years?
§ MR. HOWARD VINCENT (Sheffield, Central)said, that, before his right hon. Friend answered that Question, he should like to ask him whether the undertaking he gave the other day as to the Government employment of the steel trade applied to large ingots only, or to all the gun forgings required by the War Department?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE (Mr. E. STANHOPE) (Lincolnshire, Horncastle)The steel produced at Woolwich during the last three years has been as follows:—In 1883–4, 1,564tons; in 1884–5, 1,698 tons; in 1885–6, 2,279 tons. The heaviest single casting in each of the first two years was about 19 tons, and in the last year about 12 tons. In reply to the second Question, I have to state that my answer applied to forgings of all sizes; and I propose, subject to unforeseen contingencies, during the coming financial year to give to the trade nearly three-fourths of all the gun forgings which may be required.