82. Mr. F. HALLasked what is the value of work entrusted by the Admiralty, in each of the three years ended 31st December, 1913, to firms connected with the Harvey Steel Trust; and whether the contracts relating thereto were given as the result of open tender?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLI presume the hon. Member refers to the Harvey United Steel Company, which was founded in 1901 to acquire the assets relating to the use of certain patent rights for treatment of steel. The Harvey patents expired in 1905, and other patents owned by the company expired in 1909, and royalties lapsed from those dates. From public information it would appear that the company began to return its capital in 1905, and apparently was wound up voluntarily in 1912. No Admiralty contracts for the years referred to by the hon. Member appear to have been subject to any royalties on licences granted by the Harvey Company.