§ VISCOUNT HELMSLEY (Yorkshire, N.R., Thirsk)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether an expert Committee was appointed to investigate the whole question of the use of mercury in the manufacture of cordite; and, if so, whether the Army Council intended to be bound by their decision.
I beg also to ask the Secretary of State for War whether the expert Committee on cordite has sat; whether it has arrived at a conclusion; and, if so, whether he will state the conclusion arrived at by the Committee.
§ Mr. HALDANEA conference of. experts under the presidency of Lord Rayleigh was asked to consider and advise as to certain questions regarding, condemned cordite. The investigation of the whole question of the use of mercury in the manufacture of cordite was not referred to the conference. No addition of mercury is or will be allowed to cordite manufactured for the Government. The-Reports of the conference were fully considered in the action subsequently taken by the Army Council. It is not in the interests of the public to publish those Reports.