§ MR. COCHRANE (Ayrshire, N.)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the War Office, during the month of September last, invited rival manufacturers to witness the process of manufacture of nitro-glycerine and the whole process of making cordite at Waltham Abbey, notwithstanding that the validity of the cordite patent was then in dispute; whether he is aware that a large portion of such processes are the result of many years of special experience in the manufacture of nitro-glycerine explosives, and were shown in confidence to officials of the Government by the inventor and owners of the Nobel Ballistite Patents, before it was known that the Government had any intention of attempting to take out patents (now the subject of litigation) for the manufacture of any similar powder; and whether he will cause an inquiry to be made into the circumstances of the case?
§ MR. CAMPBELL-BANNERMANAs the whole question of cordite patents is the subject of impending legal proceedings, I think that the hon. Member will see that I can hardly answer his question.