§ MR. HANBURYI beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether any lump sum or royalty has been paid, or is to be paid, to any person in respect of any invention relating to the ammunition for the magazine rifle besides the 2s. 6d. per 1,000 up to 100,000,000 payable to Messrs. Greenwood and Batley; in what manner the payment of royalties for Service inventions is disclosed to this House in the Annual Estimates; and whether he will grant a Return of the royalties and rewards paid for Service inventions during the last 10 years?
§ MR. CAMPBELL-BANNERMANThe only sum paid or to be paid in any way connected with the ammunition for the magazine rifle, besides the 2s. 6d. per 1,000 referred to in the question, was a proportion of the £6,500 which was paid to Mr. Metford on account of his services 1276 in connection with the magazine rifle, and the ammunition employed therewith. As to the weapon, the rifling and "lead" in the chamber were due to Mr. Metford, and in the ammunition the form of bullet adopted was his. The amount was paid in one general sum, but the Ordnance Council in recommending it mentioned £5,000 for rifling and £1,500 for bullet. The payments made for royalties on stores used in the Service are not specifically shown in the Annual Estimates, but form part of the cost of the stores provided for. In many cases, particularly those which come under the old Patent Act, no separate royalty was fixed, and stores were purchased if the gross price was looked upon as satisfactory. For this reason it would not be possible to give a complete Return of all money that has reached patentees; but I shall be happy to furnish the hon. Member with a Return of all cases where royalties have been awarded, showing the rates, although I would suggest that it be limited to five years.