§ MR. BELLAIRS (Lynn Regis)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty if he will state the quantity of cordite which has been destroyed since 1st January 1907, either because of deterioration or because of the presence of mercuric chloride; and whether £170 per ton would be a rough average value of this cordite, having regard to the greater cost of the larger sizes.
§ MR. EDMUND ROBERTSONThe Admiralty consider that it would not be in the interests of the public service to make any statement on this subject.
§ MR. BELLAIRSIs the right hon. Gentleman aware this information must be given to Parliament within eight or nine months in the Auditor-General's Report?
§ MR. EDMUND ROBERTSONNo, Sir, I am not.
§ MR. ARTHUR LEE (Hampshire, Fareham)Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that as the value, of this cordite was announced in an Answer to a Question the other day, it is quite possible for one knowing the price per ton to estimate the quantity.
§ MR. EDMUND ROBERTSONI do not remember that answer.
§ MR. ARTHUR LEEIt was £8,000.
§ MR. ASHLEY (Lancashire, N.E., Blackpool)Have steps been taken to replace this cordite immediately?
§ [No Answer was returned.]