§ MR. HANBURYI beg to ask the Secretary of State for War who was appointed chemist to the War Office on the retirement of Sir F. Abel; whether Dr. Dupre was appointed as adviser only, and was already fully occupied with his duties at the Home Office; what, if any, is the control exercised by Dr. Kellner of the Woolwich Laboratory over the work at Waltham Abbey; whether the head of the Waltham Factory is a military man, with no scientific chemist under him; whether the deputy manager is not a scientific chemist, but a practical man trained in the routine work; whether the foreman, who was unfortunately killed in the last explosion, was a scientific chemist; and when was the Report on the former fatal explosion signed, and why has it not been sooner presented to Parliament?
§ MR. WOODALL(who replied) said: When in 1888 the Explosives Committee was formed with Sir F. Abel as president, the distribution of the work of the Chemical Department was re-arranged, the ordinary work being taken over by Dr. Kellner, and the larger questions connected with explosives falling to the Explosives Committee. When the Explosives Committee came to an end in 1891 Dr. Dupre succeeded Sir F. Abel as an associate member of the Ordnance Committee. He is also the adviser of the Director General of Ordnance Factories when consulted on questions relative to explosives. I understand that Dr. Dupre's duties at the Home Office leave sufficient time for the required purpose. Dr. Kellner is not attached to the Ordnance Factories, and exercises, therefore, no control at Waltham. He is, however, frequently consulted. The superintendent at Waltham Abbey is a military man, but he is assisted by a staff of practical chemists with special knowledge of explosives. The Report on the former explosion was signed on April 25, presented on the 30th, and distributed this 789 morning. I may add that Lord Sandhurst's Committee has been requested to make a full inquiry into the administration of the factories dealing with nitroglycerine, guncotton, and cordite. The committee will report as expeditiously as possible, and the Secretary of State will then promptly consider what changes may be expedient.
§ MR. WOODALLIt will be sent, in the first place, to the Secretary of State, who no doubt will have it circulated.