§ MR. NORMAN (Wolverhampton, S.)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether he will state what contracts for the supply of cordite in bulk and in small arm ammunition were signed on behalf of the Government during the 822 years 1895, 1896, 1897, 1898, and 1899, and on what dates in those years, and what quantities were delivered by the contractors in those years.
§ MR. BRODRICKI cannot undertake to give all the detailed information asked for within the limits of a reply to a Question. The hon. Member will find some of the information he requires in the Report of the Select Committee on Contracts, 1900. The production of cordite rose from 510 tons in 1895 to 1,770 tons in 1898, the last year before the war, and the orders for small arm ammunition, which were 58,000,000 rounds in 1895, of which 14,000,000 were ordered immediately after the change of Government, rose to 78,000,000 in 1896, and 92,000,000 in 1897.
§ MR. NORMANCan the right hon. Gentleman say if any new contracts for cordite were given in the years I have mentioned after 1895?
§ MR. BRODRICKA very large contract was given for cordite, but the supply has not been begun. The supply, however, from the factories was very largely increased during 1896, 1897, and 1898. As the hon. Member knows, cordite is not ordinary small arm ammunition.
§ MR. WEIR (Ross and Cromarty)Is it not the, fact that in 1896 the machinery was not ready for the production of cordite?
§ [No answer was returned.]