HC Deb 08 January 1894 vol 20 cc1018-9
ADMIRAL FIELD

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether he is aware that the 8-inch breech-loading gun of 15 tons, supplied to the Forton Division of Royal Marine Light Infantry for the purpose of instructing the Marines in the working of heavy guns on board Her Majesty's ships some three years ago or more, is still lying outside the gun shed unmounted and useless; whether repeated applications have been officially made by Commandants to have a covered platform erected to receive the gun when mounted; and why no attention is paid to such reasonable demands in the interest of the service?

THE CIVIL LORD OF THE ADMIRALTY (Mr. E. ROBERTSON,) Dundee

It was arranged that the gun in question should be fitted in the Gun Battery at Forton in place of a 9-inch rifled muzzle-loading gun, and the necessary expense was approved in August, 1891. Before the work was commenced it was decided that it was desirable to retain the muzzle-loading gun for instructional purposes, and to erect a separate shed in which the 8-inch breech-loader should be mounted. Provision for this work has been made in the Estimates for 1894–5.