§ 23. Major MILNERasked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether he is aware that Mr. John Anderson Corry, of 37, Burley Village, Leeds, was the first person to submit precise details of his invention of a tank, then described as a land ironclad, to the War Office; that the date of such submission was the 14th November, 1911; that to ensure secrecy in the national interest Mr. Corry did not make his invention public; that he has been unable to obtain any compensation and is now unemployed; and whether he will take steps to see that Mr. Corry receives appropriate recognition and compensation?
§ Mr. COOPERI am aware that Mr. Corry submitted on 14th November, 1911, a description of a land ironclad, and that his project was mentioned in the Press at the same time. There was no novelty in the principle of his proposal. Mr. Corry's claim for compensation has been investigated by both the War Office and the Royal Commission on Awards to Inventors, and the decision that he is not entitled to any award has been consistently upheld.
§ Major MILNERDo I understand that, although it is admitted that this man was the first to submit the idea to the War Office, the War Office is not willing to consider the payment of some compensation to him?
§ Mr. COOPERIt is not admitted that he was the first to submit the suggestion.
§ Major MILNERIs the hon. Gentleman aware that another military officer has been awarded a very substantial sum on the ground that he was the first to submit this idea, and that the date was July, 1914, whereas the date of Mr. Corry's submission was 1911?
§ Mr. COOPERThere was no novelty in the proposal put forward by Mr. Corry. As the hon. and gallant Member is probably aware, suggestions of this kind have been put forward for the last 2,000 years.
§ Mr. THORNEIs it not a fact that the War Office is always sucking people's brains and never paying for them?
§ Major MILNERIf this idea has been common property for 2,000 years, why have the Government already paid another individual £15,000 as if the idea was something novel?
§ Mr. COOPERBecause he put forward a practical suggestion which really assisted the invention as finally made.