§ MR. W. E. M. TOMLINSON (Preston)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War (1) whether the War Office has received any complaints with respect to the quality of the black powder Lee-Metford rifle ammunition served out to the Militia for musketry practice; (2) whether he is aware that bullets are found which have dropped far short of the target, indicating by their condition that the propulsive force has been deficient; (3) whether any steps will be taken to test the quality of ammunition served out for class firing; and (4) whether there is any danger of ammunition of an equally imperfect character being issued for active service?
§ *MR. CAMPBELL-BANNERMANNo complaints have been received, and nothing is known in the War Office of the dropped bullets referred to in the second paragraph. All the ammunition issued has passed proof satisfactorily, and is service ammunition. There have from time to time been complaints of isolated instances of dropped bullets during the time when the regular troops used black powder; but, so far as could be ascertained, such cases were due to individual errors in manufacture, which cannot, except by chance, be detected by inspection.
§ MR. TOMLINSONasked whether he might be allowed to show the right hon. Gentleman a bullet which had been fired and which had dropped short of the target?
§ *MR. CAMPBELL-BANNERMANdoubted whether the mere production of a bullet could prove that it had fallen short of the target in consequence of insufficient propulsive force.