§ Mr. CHARLES CRAIG (for Captain Faber)asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he will give a Return of the quantities of cordite during the last three months which have been destroyed, or used at practice, or passed into the Service?
§ Mr. McKENNAIt is not in the public interest to supply the details asked for.
§ Mr. C. CRAIG (for Captain Faber)asked if he will state whether several recent deliveries of cordite for big guns supplied by the Government factory and private manufacturers have been found too unstable after forty days' storage to warrant admission with safety into the Service; and, if so, what steps are being taken to provide a stable explosive for the Navy?
§ Mr. McKENNAIt is not in the public interest to give the information asked for in the first part of the question. Investigations and experiments are continually in progress with a view to further ensuring the stability of cordite.
§ Mr. C. CRAIGMay I ask if he can assure us that there is no truth in the reports which have been published in certain papers that owing to the stringency of the tests which are now imposed by the Admiralty for cordite that a large quantity of Government made cordite and privately made cordite have failed to pass the test; and that owing to that fact there is a certain amount of shortage in cordite for the Navy?
§ Mr. McKENNAI can assure the hon. Gentleman that there is no truth in the statement that there is any shortage of cordite. With regard to the first part he is merely repeating the question.