§ MR. MACARTNEY () Antrim, S.I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether he is aware that ammunition exceeding £27,000 in value has been thrown overboard from his Majesty's ships; whether this was practice ammunition; and whether he can say if it was thrown overboard with the object of avoiding the carrying out of the prescribed gunnery course.
§ THE SECRETARY TO THE ADMIRALTY (Mr. ARNOLD-FORSTER,) Belfast, W.I have seen the statement to the effect of truth, and is entirely without foundation. In September, 1899, a certain class of ammunition was reported by the authorities of the Royal Laboratory at Woolwich to be defective and dangerous, and in consequence the whole of the ammunition of this character issued to ships was, by order of the Admiralty, thrown overboard, a course which was believed to be the wisest and safest under the circumstances. The value of this ammunition was, approximately £27,000. The whole of the circumstances have been inquired into by the Comptroller and Auditor General, who has correctly stated them in his Report issued to this House.