§ MR. SHACKLETON (Lancashire, Clitheroe)To ask the Secretary of State for War what number of the service rifles, Lee-Metford and Lee-Enfield, were made at the Royal Small Arms Factory, Enfield, during the years 1889–1890, 1890–1891, 1891–2, 1892–3, 1893–4; what was the cost per rifle each year; what number of Lee-Metford and Lee-Enfield rifles were made at the Royal Small Arms Factory, Birmingham, during the same period, and what was the cost per rifle for each year; what was the number of these rifles made at the London Small Arms Factory, Old Ford, during the same period, and what was the cost per rifle each year respectively; and will he state if the cost of establishment, depreciation of plant and machinery, are included in the cost of the rifle at Enfield, whether wages at Enfield are higher than at any other small arms factory, and whether a large amount of sub-contracting exists at the present time at the private firms, resulting in the employment of a number of men by sub-contractors at low wages.
(Answered by MR. Secretary Arnold-Forster.)The number of service rifles made at Enfield and Birmingham for the years in question, and their cost, were as follows:—
§ half of the contract was £5 10s., and for the second half £4 18s., The cost of establishment and depreciation of plant
1197§ and machinery are included in the cost of the rifle at Enfield. As regards wages at Enfield, when the difference of rates of wages in different districts and of the scheme of manufacturing in each factory are taken into consideration, the run of wages for rifle work is not higher than at Sparkbrook, but, if anything, it may be said to be rather lower. The rate of wages paid by private firms is not known. There is no sub-contracting at the present time of which the War Department is aware.