§ MR. WEIRI beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for War whether, seeing that the system of charging the time of men engaged on experimental work or alterations is not adopted in the case of the Brennan torpedo, will he state whether, in the case of other experiments or alterations conducted by the War Office authorities, no separate accounts of the cost thereof are kept; and, if so, will steps be taken to keep such separate accounts in accordance with the practice which prevails in every well conducted workshop in the Kingdom?
§ MR. BRODRICKThe torpedo was purchased as a completed invention, but in the course of its manufacture experiments have been made with a view to improvements of detail, and, as the hon. Member has been informed, it is not possible to separate fully the portion of salaries, wages, and materials expended on experiments from the portion expended on manufacture. I would again refer the hon. Member to the answer on this subject given on 3rd May 1894 by the late Secretary of State for War.