HC Deb 05 July 1898 vol 60 cc1115-6
MR. WINGFIELD-DIGBY (Dorset, N.)

I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for War whether the 303 magazine Lee-Metford ammunition is being sold to the volunteers at actual cost price (i.e., at the price it cost to manufacture it in the Government factories); if so, will the War Office consider the advisability of selling the ammunition, cheaper, looking to the country for the balance, as an encouragement to the volunteers?

MR. BRODRICK

A volunteer corps armed with rifles of 303 calibre receives annually 75 rounds per man free, and may obtain 15 rounds more if recommended by the general officer, the amount compulsorily expended on class firing being 21 rounds for a trained man, 42 for a recruit. Corps desirous of purchasing ammunition for match-shooting may purchase up to 10 rounds a head cordite ammunition at the reduced price of £4 per thousand. Beyond this quantity, the actual cost price of the ammunition to the Government must be paid.