50. Sir F. HALLasked the Prime Minister if his attention has been called to the recent trial and conviction of Sir Joseph Jonas, a naturalised German, and of Charles Alfred Vernon, son of Carl Auguste Hahn, for supplying information to Germany connected with the mechanism and construction of a new German rifle intended for use by the British Army; whether Vernon is, or ever has been, in the service of the Ministry of Munitions; and if the names of these two persons will be submitted to the Committee to be set up under the British Nationality and Status of Aliens Bill, should it become law?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWThe answer to the first and second parts of the question is in the affirmative. As regards the last part of the question, the case of Sir Joseph Jonas will be submitted to the Committee. Vernon, however I am informed, is a natural-born British subject.
§ 83 and 84. Mr. JOYNSON-HICKSasked the Minister of Munitions whether 1110 he is aware that the firm of Jonas, Colver and Company, Limited, had, prior to the War, one of the best reputations in Sheffield as steel makers, and during the whole of 1915 and the early part of 1916 were practically the sole suppliers of aeroplane cranks and crank steel for air engines, but that their reputation for good steel changed, and that owing to the bad steel supplied by this company the principal machining firm in Sheffield was occupied on machining 80 per cent. of defective stuff to the prejudice of the engine programme of the Air Board; whether any compensation in respect of bad steel paid to machining firms came out of public funds; whether an analysis showed that much of the steel was such that it never could have met the tests required; whether he is aware that in the middle of 1917 the chief steel maker to Jonas and Colver left and that Mr. Robert Jonas is now in charge of the steel-making plant; whether the Air Board has recently installed a Government steel specialist at the works, and what experience of steel making has this expert; (2) whether he will explain why, in spite of the repeated output of defective steel by Messrs. Jonas and Colver, they still have the largest allocation for the production of high-grade steel of any firm in Sheffield; and whether he will cause a full independent inquiry to be made into the transactions of this firm since the War began?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the MINISTRY of MUNITIONS (Mr. Kellaway)The replies to these questions will necessitate the examination of a large number of documents at Sheffield. This examination is proceeding, and I hope to be in a position to reply to my hon. Friend on Thursday.