HC Deb 31 March 1903 vol 120 cc687-8
SIR WILLIAM ALLAN (Gateshead)

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty if he will state the amount that has been paid as royalty to De Launay, Belleville, and Co., from and including H.M.S. "Powerful," and "Terrible," to the latest ship fitted with Belleville boilers; and whether he will explain why half the royalty was paid on the water-tube boilers intended for His Majesty's vessels "Queen," "Berwick," and "Cornwall," although the boilers were never manufactured by Belleville and Co. for these ships; and what was the amount of the half-royalty paid.

THE SECRETARY TO THE ADMIRALTY (Mr. ARNOLD-FORSTER, Belfast, W.)

The total amount which has been paid in royalties is £169,282 5s. 1d. The conditions as regards payment of the royalty for the boilers of the three ships in question provided for an instalment of one-half the royalty being paid upon the orders being placed for the construction of the machinery. Payment was accordingly made as soon as the orders were placed. Upon the receipt of the preliminary report of the Boiler Committee the Board decided to replace the boilers by those of other types, and the orders for the Belleville boilers were accordingly cancelled. The Admiralty was advised that Messrs. De Launay, Belleville and Co. were under no liability to repay the amounts paid. No other action was possible. The total amount of the half-royalties in question was £4,582 13s. 4d.