§
Motion made, and Question proposed,
That a sum, not exceeding £449,000, be granted to His Majesty, to defray the Expense of Scientific Services, which will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day of March, 1922.
§ Rear-Admiral ADAIROn the subject of research I want to raise one point. During the last 25 years we have had numerous cases of spontaneous combustion of cordite on board ship. During the War two vessels were actually blown up—one being a first-class ship, the Van-guard—owing to the spontaneous combustion of cordite. I wish to raise this question now, so that when we come to Vote 9 I shall be able to get a thorough answer. I would ask who is responsible for improving our propellant and is the cordite going to be so improved that there will be no risk in future of losing our first-class ships through spontaneous combustion?
§ Mr. AMERYThis matter, on the present arrangement of our Estimates, is really one which ought to be raised on Vote 9, Sub-head G, which deals with the explosive factories at Holton Heath and so on, at which special scientific research is carried on. I hope the hon. and gallant Gentleman will excuse me if I do not follow the subject further on this Vote. I can assure him that this matter is of immense importance and that the Board of Admiralty do attach the greatest importance to full scientific research and to making the explosives we employ not only the most powerful in the world, but as reasonably safe as we can.
§ Rear-Admiral ADAIRI will raise the question again on Vote 9, and I hope I shall then get a satisfactory answer.
§ Question put, and agreed to.