§ MR. C. GRAHAMI beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether a "Maxim Lock," which is supplied by contractors to Government at £20, is made at Enfield for about £1; whether a five-barrel Nordenfelt gun, for which con- 892 tractors charge £338 8s., can be made at Enfield for £120; whether recently about 20 operatives have been dismissed from Enfield; and whether contracts have been given to Sheffield firms at greatly higher rates than cost price at Enfield; and, if so, will he explain why this course has been adopted?
§ * THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR WAR (Mr. E. STANHOPE, Lincolnshire, Horncastle)The Enfield price for the Maxim lock cannot be definitely stated, as the manufacture is not yet complete; but it will probably be about £6. The contract price was £20. A five-barrel Nordenfelt gun could be made at Enfield, with appliances complete, for £135. The contract price was as stated in the question; but it is a pattern of which no purchases are now made. More than 20 men have been dismissed from Enfield. The only contract put out at Sheffield was for sword-bayonets in 1889, to a firm who were encouraged to take up the trade to avoid our having to resort to Germany. The price was about 8 per cent. above the then cost of production in the Ordnance factories. May I say generally that all these questions point to the satisfactory conclusion that articles are produced more cheaply in the Ordnance factories. Of course, this is so under their present management, but it does not affect the principle which I have often laid down, and which this House has accepted, that, instead of extending Government factories, it is much wiser, in the interests of the country, to encourage private firms to assist in producing the necessary warlike material.
§ CAPTAIN BOWLES (Middlesex, Enfield)I wish to ask whether it is not the fact that the establishment at Enfield has been reduced rather than extended?
§ MR. E. STANHOPEIt has been reduced, but only by a very small number.
§ MR. HOWARD (Middlesex, Tottenham)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether arrangements have been recently made to turn out 500 rifles per week at the Royal Small Arms Factory, Sparkbrook, instead of 400, as formerly, whilst the number turned out at the Enfield Small Arms Factory has been reduced from 1,200 to 500 per week; and whether any men have been discharged from the Small Arms Factory, 893 Sparkbrook, during the last two or three weeks, other than fitters, though the numbers at Enfield have been largely reduced?
§ MR. E. STANHOPENo alteration whatever has been made in the output at Sparkbrook, which has always been a small one. On the other hand, the output at Enfield has been very large; and, looking to the reduced orders to be expected next year, some reduction is necessary there, though not to the extent anticipated by my hon. Friend.