§ MR. WEIR (Ross and Cromarty)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for War, having regard to the fact that in 1897–8 a loss of £3,127 15s, 8d. resulted from the manufacture in the Royal Laboratory of mixed metal turnings into ingots, will he state whether it has now been found possible to effect a saving; and, if so, to what extent whether he will state under what circumstances two tons of ferro-molybde-num were purchased for stock at Woolwich in 1896 at a cost of £770, seeing that up to October last no issues of this expensive material had been made?
* THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY TO THE WAR OFFICE (Mr. J. POWELL- WILLIAMS,) Birmingham, S.The matters to which this Question relates have been noticed by the Controller and Auditor-General, and are now before the Public Accounts Committee, who will make a Report upon them to the House, if they deem it necessary.