§ MR. CROOKS (Woolwich)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether his attention has been called to the action of the naval ordnance inspector at the Royal Arsenal, Woolwich, in allowing the contractors to take sketches of sections of the torpedoes, which are the secret and property of the nation, while the torpedo shop is idle; will he arrange for the work to be completed in the Arsenal without the intervention of the contractors and where the work is much needed.
§ MR. EDMUND ROBERTSONOrders were placed this financial year with the Ordnance Factory and the trade, for torpedoes of a new pattern to an Admiralty specification, and in order to ensure uniformity of manufacture, which is considered essential, it was necessary that the contractors should be allowed 89 to visit the Government factory to obtain information as to certain details. The usual procedure as to the allocation of orders between the Arsenal and the trade was followed in this case.
§ MR. CROOKSWill the right hon. Gentleman tell us exactly what the "usual procedure" is?
§ MR. EDMUND ROBERTSONasked for notice of that Question.
§ * MR. CHIOZZA MONEY: (Paddington, N.)May I ask what guarantee is exacted from these private contractors as to secrecy?
§ MR. EDMUND ROBERTSONThe same guarantee as we have in all cases from private manufacturers.
§ * MR. CHIOZZA MONEYIs it not obvious that it would be better to confine these secrets to Government departments?
§ [No Answer was returned.]
§ * MR. CHIOZZA MONEYMay I ask for an Answer to my Question.
§ MR. EDMUND ROBERTSONIt is an argumentative Question.
§ * MR. CHIOZZA MONEYThen I will put it down on the Paper.
§ MR. KEIR HARDIE (Merthyr Tydvil)Is no action taken to prevent contractors' confiding these designs to foreign Governments?
§ MR. EDMUND ROBERTSONI believe so.