§ MR. HANBURYI beg to ask the Secretary of State for War if he can state the particular patents, with their official description and the names of the patentees, in connection with the new magazine rifle, in respect of which awards of money have been made or offered; and what was the particular amount in the case of each of such patents?
§ MR. WOODALLThe British Magazine Rifle Company have been awarded a royalty of 2s. per arm up to 500,000 arms (£50,000 in all) in full discharge of all claims under all the patents owned by the Company which affect the Lee-Metford rifle; but no special amount was fixed with regard to any particular patent. The patents held by the Company, and thus referred to, were one of 1879 in the name of Mr. W. R. Lake; one of 1887 taken out by James P. Lee; and three of 1887 and one of 1888 in the name of Joseph 561 James Speed. In addition to these, a payment of £1,000 has been offered in connection with a patent of 1890 standing in the names of Frederick James Penn and John Deeley.
§ MR. HANBURYIs it not a fact that Speed, in respect of whose patent payment has been made to these people, is a foreman at Enfield?
§ MR. WOODALLSpeed is in the employ of the War Department.
§ MR. HANBURYOn the Army Estimates I shall call attention to the payments made in respect of these patents.