§ MR. CROOKS (Woolwich)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War, in view of the discharges and suspensions of workmen from Woolwich Arsenal, if he will take steps to prevent further discharges and suspensions by ensuring that a larger proportion of orders for munitions of war are placed in the Arsenal; and also if he can state the number of men suspended and discharged through orders being delayed owing to the length of time taken in conducting various experiments in shell and gun work.
§ * THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY TO THE WAR OFFICE (Mr. BROMLEY DAVENPORT,) Cheshire, MacclesfieldThe proportion of orders allotted to the Ordnance Factory and the trade is governed by the policy that trade resources must be kept open during peace so as to be available in time of war, and no promise regarding such proportion can 693 be given. Experiments are carried out as expeditiously as possible, and no discharges or suspensions can be attributed to delay in this respect.