§ MR. ROE (Derby)asked the Secretary of State for War, Whether, in view of the fact that since the last competitive trial seven years ago new machine guns have been invented and many improvements made in the older weapons of that class, he will institute a searching competition trial, in order that the best instrument may be discovered and issued to the Naval and Military Services?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE (Mr. E. STANHOPE) (Lincolnshire, Horncastle)It is not desirable to tie the Government down to the exclusive use of any one machine gun. For different purposes different machine guns may offer moat advantages; and the War Department will take good care to keep itself informed as to the progress of invention, so that it may be in a position to secure the weapon best adapted for use under all the varying conditions of our Service.