§ MR. BELLAIRSTo ask the Secretary of State for War whether he is yet in a position to state the number of lyddite shells of Woolwich manufacture that have recently been rejected; whether there is reason to believe that a large quantity of these defective shells have found their way into both services; and whether he can now state how a Government arsenal came to use large quantities of defective material, although the prices charged for shells by the arsenal are considerably higher than those quoted by the trade.
(Answered by Mr. Secretary Haldane.) The number of shells so rejected is 152. There is no reason to believe that any defective shells have found their way into the service. As I have already explained to my hon. friend some material used for the manufacture of lyddite shells developed flaws, which could only be found during manufacture or by cutting up the material.