§ MAJOR RASCH (Essex, S.E.)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether, of the total number of magazine rifles issued, 40 per cent. have been returned to the Government Factory, Birmingham, for repairs, and whether, of the total number thus sent in, one-third are useless for shooting purposes, and are branded "D.P.," or for drill purposes only; and if their manufacture is being carried on at the rate of 2,OOO per week?
§ THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY FOR WAR (Mr. BRODRICK, Surrey, Guildford)My hon. Friend has not given time to ascertain the precise number of rifles sent in. The rifles in question have been used by recruits as well as by trained soldiers, and have therefore, of necessity, been subjected to some rough 1396 treatment, but they are not useless for shooting purposes. We require a certain proportion of arms for drill purposes, and have naturally marked these arms "D.P." in preference to any new arms for drill purposes. The manufacture of rifles at present exceeds 2,000 a week.