§ MR. COCHRANE (Ayshire, N.)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that Cordite gunpowder, as now being introduced into both Services (and mentioned in the First Lord of the Admiralty's Memorandum), is claimed to be an infringement of Nobel's patent; whether notice of this was given to the War Office two years ago, and ever since has been under their consideration; whether any litigation on this subject is pending, and whether the War Office will take every step in their power to obtain an early decision of the Law Courts to this long-pending controversy; and if he will state when a judgment on the matter may be anticipated?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR WAR (Mr. CAMPBELL-BANNERMAN,) Stirling, &c.The answer to the first three paragraphs of the hon. Member's question is, Yes. The question is before the Law Courts, and beyond the control of the War Office. I am not able to say when judgment will be pronounced.