§ MR. J. ROWLANDS (Finsbury, E.)asked the First Lord of the Treasury, Whether it has been the practice, whenever the Representatives of friendly Powers have made formal applications to inspect Government workshops and arsenals, or to obtain copies of drawings and plans of warships, machinery, or armaments, to grant the facilities sought by such persons; and, whether it is the case that Naval designs have been furnished to the American, Russian, and other Governments?
§ THE FIRST LORD (Mr. W. H. SMITH) (Strand, Westminster)The War Department allow Representatives of friendly Powers, whose applications are forwarded by the Foreign Office, to inspect such workshops as do not contain secrets exclusively held, or supposed to be held, by Her Majesty's Government; and the same rules apply to the grant of drawings and plans. The Admiralty allow Foreign Naval Attaches free access to inspect the Government Naval Establishments. It is not the practice to allow them to obtain copies of drawings and plans of warships, machinery, or arma- 857 merits. In exceptional cases drawings of designs have Loon given.