HC Deb 18 October 1916 vol 86 c523
4. Sir JOHN LONSDALE

asked the Secretary to the Admiralty if he is aware that the British Mannesmann Tube Company, Limited, contractors for boiler tubes for the Admiralty, is under the management of a naturalised German and his two sons, the latter having been brought into the business during the War and exempted from military service; and if the Board of Admiralty propose to allow the holders of such contracts to be under the control of persons of enemy origin?

Dr. MACNAMARA

The company in question at the present time holds contracts from the Admiralty for tubes. I understand the capital is now almost entirely held by natural-born Britons. The board of directors consists of four gentlemen, three of whom are British-born subjects, and the fourth, the managing director, is a naturalised British subject of German origin. I believe it to be the fact that he is assisted by his two sons, who wear the badge "on war service" issued by us. I should add that the firm is a controlled establishment under the Ministry of Munitions.

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