§ MR. MUNDELLA (Sheffield, Brightside)asked the Secretary of State for War, How long has the casting of steel required for projectiles been in operation at the Royal Laboratory; whether it is true that a second furnace has been recently erected there for that purpose; and, whether the undertaking given re- 1584 cently by him in regard to steel forging s will be made to apply equally to the steel required for shells and all other purposes in the various Army Manufacturing Departments?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE (Mr. E. STANHOPE) (Lincolnshire, Horncastle)Steel for projectiles was first cast in the Royal Laboratory in the financial year 1885–6. The expenditure for this purpose was authorized on January 20, 1885. The second furnace was commenced about the middle of the year 1886, provision having been made in the Estimates of 1886–7. The undertaking given by me a few days ago as to the trade applied only to steel forgings, and was in redemption of expectations previously held out, but only partially fulfilled. I may take this opportunity of correcting an answer made by me as to the furnaces recently erected for steel forgings. The furnace mentioned by me as capable of producing six-ton ingots can really produce ingots up to 10 tons. But the larger furnace of 15 tons is not completed, and there is no intention of doing so at the present time.