MR. FIELD (Dublin, St. Patrick)I beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he will state the ships of Her Majesty's Navy which have received Belleville boilers, also the ships building or ordered which will receive them; whether these boilers have been made in France by the Belleville Company; and, if not, by whom are they made, and if any royalty or any charges are paid to the Belleville Company for Belleville boilers made in England; and, whether the right to make Belleville boilers is in any way patented or protected in England?
§ THE FIRST LORD OF THE ADMIRALTYBelleville boilers have been or will be fitted in all battleships, commencing with the Canopus class; all first-class cruisers since and including the Powerful and Terrible; all second-class cruisers following the Talbot class; and six sloops of the Mutine class. Only one set of Belleville boilers, that for the Sharpshooter, has been made by the Belleville Company for Her Majesty's Navy; all others have been or are being made by machinery contractors in this country. Royalty is paid to the Belleville Company on all Belleville boilers so made. The right to make Belleville boilers is patented and protected in England.