§ 71. Mr. NEALasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Munitions. whether premises have recently been taken in Sheffield for use as a steel-testing laboratory at an annual rental of £500; whether it is intended that this laboratory shall be permanent or temporary, and, if the latter, for how long it is intended to use the same; and what is the need for this department and what is the estimated. annual cost thereof?
§ Mr. KELLAWAYThe premises at Townhead Street, Sheffield, were taken over in December, 1917, at an annual rental of £500, for use as a metallurgical laboratory. During the past year all other temporary metallurgical laboratories, established during the War in various parts of the country, have been closed down. A laboratory, for the testing of steel and other metals for artillery equipment and aircraft, will be required so long as stores of this nature are supplied to the War Office, the Air Ministry, and other Departments. The future annual cost is 1679 estimated at £6,100, and it is expected that an approximately equivalent sum will be recovered from contractors.
§ Sir M. DOCKRELLMay I ask whether a laboratory for testing the price at which we could sell our steel is not more urgently required?
§ Mr. KELLAWAYI should not like to enter into a controversy on a point of that kind with my hon. Friend.