§ 9. Mr. ALAN TODDasked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he will, in future, arrange that old chain be sold as scrap, thereby ensuring that it will not be used again, and thus assist in finding employment?
The FIRST LORD of the ADMIRALTY (Sir Bolton Eyres Monsell)Owing to the expense involved in mutilating chain and the loss to public funds in reducing the price realisable at sale, the answer is in the negative.
§ Mr. TODDIs it not a fact that, at the present time, chain-making is practically non-existent in this country owing to the practice of the Admiralty; and will the right hon. and gallant Gentleman receive representations on this point?
Sir B. EYRES MONSELLI cannot admit that, and I am afraid that in the present state of the finances the Admiralty cannot incur additional expenditure, involving, also, loss of revenue.