§ SIR WLLLIAM PLOWDEN (Wolverhampton, W.)asked the Surveyor General of the Ordnance, Whether the Papers and Correspondence embodying the facts relating to alleged deficiencies in naval guns and ammunition, amounting to upwards of £1,250,000, and the delay in the transfer of Votes for Naval Ordnance from the Army to the Navy 883 Estimates, have been printed; and, if so, can they be seen by Members of this House on application to the War Office; and, if not, can he state the reason?
§ THE SURVEYOR GENERAL (Mr. NORTHCOTE) (Exeter)With reference to the first part of the Question, I am not aware of the existence of any such correspondence. With regard to the question of transfer to Naval Votes, the Inter-Departmental Correspondence is not yet complete; and, under such circumstances, correspondence is usually regarded as confidential.