§ MR. DAVID THOMAS (Merthyr Tydvil)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether Mark III. of the new magazine rifle is now in process of manufacture at Enfield, or is contemplated; who are the persons responsible for the selection of .303 as the calibre of the new rifle, in the face of the opinions of practical experts to the contrary; whether the same has been condemned by Government experts as too small for accurate shooting, owing to liability to accumulate fouling, and other defects; whether any increase in size of the calibre has been decided upon, or is contemplated; whether Marks I. and II. can be converted to Mark III. or not; and whether any, and, if any, how many, workmen have been recently discharged from the Enfield Factory; and, if so, can he explain for what reason?
§ MR. BRODRICKMark III. of the new rifle is not in contemplation. Every nation in Europe has adopted a smaller bore rifle; and Government experts in this country have not condemned it. During the four weeks ending on the 31st of January 90 men were discharged from the Enfield factory, a decreased output being required from Enfield now that trade firms are commencing supplies of the magazine arm.