I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty why the contractors who supplied the 6,000,000 rounds in 1900 and 1901, 5,000,000 of which were condemned in 1905, were not proceeded against in a court of law, with a view to recovering the loss which the public suffered, in accordance with the view expressed by the Public Accounts Committee in paragraph 24 of their Report; and who is responsible for the fact that no action has been taken.

It was considered that as the ammunition had passed inspection and proof and been accepted no claim could be sustained. There was no suggestion that the deterioration was due to fraudulent conduct on the part of the contractor.