§ MR. LEAI beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty if he will furnish the names of His Majesty's ships at present on the active list containing castings supplied by the Ayrshire Foundry Company prior to the delivery of the rudder for the "King Edward VII.," and in each case specify against each ship what castings were supplied, giving full particulars of each casting; and whether the Admiralty have any guarantee, beyond Admiralty inspectors' reports, that any such castings were not tampered with in a similar manner to the "King Edward VII." rudder, with special reference to castings supplied to H.M.S. "Argyle."
§ MR. EDMUND ROBERTSONTo furnish the information asked for would involve a great amount of labour which, in the opinion of the Admiralty, would not be justified by the results. With regard to the second Question, the castings have stood the test of actual service for some years without exhibiting defects.
† See (4) Debates, clii., 362, 363, 370.