§ MR. CALDWELLOn behalf of the hon. Member for Ross and Cromarty, I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for War whether the Government is still paying royalty on machine guns; and if so, will he state how much is paid on each of the respective guns, and when the royalties will cease?
MR. POWELL-WILLIAMSRoyalties are still being paid on the Maxim rifle-calibre machine gun, and they will continue to be paid until the patent expires in 1900. The royalty on each of the first 200 guns ordered in any financial year is £40, above that number £25. The main patent expires in 1900, but there are patents for improvements not expiring until 1901 and 1904, the royalties payable under which will have to be considered when the main patent has expired.