SIR W. HART-DYKE (Kent, Dartford)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War how soon any contracts for cordite will be given to any private firms who tendered for them about five weeks ago; whether the Government intend to give contracts to those private gunpowder manufacturers who have tendered, and who for many years have spent large sums on machinery, and put aside other work to execute orders required by the Government; whether those firms who have bad much experience in adapting powders to conform to the required proof test in guns, should have contracts given to them in preference to firms who have been only manufacturers of high explosives for blasting and similar purposes, where no scientific gun proof is required; whether any part of the blaek powder works at Waltham 125 Abbey is working at night, and whether all such work will be abandoned, so as to give work to private firms who are at present manufacturing gunpowder for the Government under the Waltham Abbey cost prices; and whether he will consider the importance of maintaining the efficiency and general staff of the said private firms by giving them orders, so as not to render their assistance valueless in case of war?
§ MR. HANBURY (Preston)I should like to ask further if it is a fact that the amount of cordite in store at the present moment is only about one quarter of what is considered to be a safe quantity to have in store? Further, in regard to contracts with private firms, is any limitation imposed as to the kind of machinery with which the cordite is made? Has it to be made with machinery the patent for which was taken out by the present Director General of Ordnance Factories?
§ *THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY TO THE WAR OFFICE (Mr. WOODALL,) Hanleysaid, that the interruption of the process of manufacture at Waltham Abbey had considerably depleted the stores, but with the co-operation of the Nobel Company the War Office had been able to produce cordite exactly answering its requirements. As to the particular conditions upon which these tenders were invited, it might be in substance stated that the Government required the cordite to be produced by the same processes, following in the main the same methods as employed at Waltham Abbey, though not necessarily employing the same machinery, giving, however, permission to observe, follow, and copy all the methods and processes adopted at Waltham. In answer to the question on the Paper the hon. Gentleman said: Nearly the whole quantity of cordite tendered for is for the Admiralty, who have not yet decided as to the supply required. I am therefore unable at present to answer paragraphs 1, 2, and 3 of the question. With regard to paragraph 3, however, it may be pointed out that the methods of manufacture of cordite and gunpowder are quite distinct. As to nightwork at Waltham Abbey, it is only the men in the incorporating mills who work a night shift regularly. If this were not done there would not be sufficient material for the day work of 126 the rest of the factory, and men would have to be discharged. The desirability of maintaining the efficiency of private firms is never overlooked by the Department. As evidence of this I may state that orders have been placed with private firms this year which could have been executed at Waltham.
§ MR. HANBURYWith how many private firms have contracts been put out?
§ MR. WOODALLNo contracts have actually been entered into.
SIR W. HART-DYKEAm I to understand that until something more definite is known as to the demand for cordite from the Admiralty and War Office the policy vaguely indicated by the hon. Gentleman will be that private firms will have a fair chance as regards the acceptance of tenders, and that they will be encouraged to put up machinery for supplying these explosives by some indication or promise of support?
§ MR. WOODALLsaid, he could understand the importance of the question to the right hon. Baronet's constituents——
SIR W. HART-DYKEIt has nothing to do with any particular constituency. It is a public question. It is a fact that there is a gunpowder factory in my constituency, but beyond my being able to get information there the point does not affect the question which I put—namely, are these private firms to be entirely closed, as regards the supply of Government ammunition?
§ * MR. WOODALLsaid, all he wished to guard against was anything in the nature of a promise. With regard to the trade generally, the policy of the Government was to keep alive as fully as possible the sources of private supply, and with that view they had determined that a very considerable proportion of the Government requirements would be obtained from private sources. At the same time, a grave responsibility would rest on the Department if it encouraged numerous undertakings to lay down plant, so that, while the Government accepted the general principle, they would act as prudently as possible and confine themselves to two, or at the most perhaps three, firms.