§ MR. CUNINGHAME GRAHAMI beg to ask the Secretary of State for War what moneys were expended on the erection of new buildings at the Royal Small Arms Factory, Enfield, during the years 1886, 1887, 1888, 1889, 1890, and 1891?
§ MR. E. STANHOPEThe money spent on the Small Arms Factory was:—In 1886–87, £25,711; in 1887–88, £15,308; in 1888–89, £4,017; in 1889–90, £1,689; in 1890–91, £1,655; in 1891–92 to 31st December, £1,300.
§ MR. WOODALL (Hanley)Do those figures include the machinery alterations.
§ MR. E. STANHOPEI am afraid I cannot answer that question.
§ MR. CUNINGHAME GRAHAMI beg to ask the Secretary of State for War if the discharges of workmen cannot be carried out in the Royal Small Arms Factory, Enfield, without discharging men with six, seven and eight years' service?
§ MR. E. STANHOPEAs far as possible reductions in the Royal Small Arms Factory, Enfield, are made from those men who have the shortest term of continuous service; but some consideration must necessarily be also given to the quality of a man's service.
§ MR. CUNINGHAME GRAHAMWill the right hon. Gentleman give an 1684 undertaking that no more men will be discharged until the House of Commons has considered the matter?
§ MR. E. STANHOPENo, Sir; I cannot hand over to the House of Commons the control of the War Office.
§ CAPTAIN BOWLES (Middlesex, Enfield)I would like to ask the right hon. Gentleman whether men who have served seven years will have any provision made for them under the Superannuation Act?
§ MR. E. STANHOPENothing can deprive them of the rights they have under that Act.
§ MR. J. ROWLANDS (Finsbury, E.)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War what was the number of the men employed in the machine gun department of the Royal Small Arms Factory, Enfield, during the years 1888 and 1889; and what is the number of men employed in the same department at the present time?
§ MR. E. STANHOPEThe highest number of men employed in the machine gun department in the year 1888–89 was 120, in 1889–90 139, in 1890–91 95, in 1891–92 102, and the actual number now employed is 102.
§ MR. J. ROWLANDSDoes the right hon. Gentleman mean that the extra employment will be given in the machine gun department, or in what department is it to be given?
§ MR. E. STANHOPEI hope and believe I shall be able to give some extra work in the machine gun department, but I have certainly not been encouraged by the way I have been pressed on the subject in the House.