§ MR. CROOKS (Woolwich)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that the contractors have recently 568 delivered at the Royal Arsenal, Woolwich, two 4.7 guns which are entirely out of truth, and also that several 12-pounder 18 cwt. guns are under plan sizes; and, if so, will he say whether the specifications for guns given out to private firms are the same as that for the Government Departments; and, if so, who is responsible for passing these guns, in view of the standard adopted by the inspectors in the Government workshops.
§ MR. ARNOLD-FORSTERThe two 4.7 guns which presumably are referred to are guns which have been issued for armaments some time and have recently been returned to Woolwich for repair. They were found to be slightly bent. Some 12-pounder guns have been delivered for inspection below plan size and are being lapped out before proof. There is nothing exceptional in this. Guns made by private firms and the Government factories are subjected to the same tests and passed to the same specifications by the Chief Inspector, Woolwich.