§ CAPTAIN NORTON (Newington, W.)I beg to ask the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether, seeing that orders have been placed for 222,000 short rifles, of which 158,000 are already manufactured, and that the programme for the year only provides for the supply of rifles for the mounted troops, he can state the number of rifles required for the latter, and how the surplus rifles are to be disposed of; and can he give the number of rifles in stock for dismounted troops.
§ * THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY TO THE WAR OFFICE (Mr. BROMLEY DAVENPORT,) Cheshire, MacclesfieldThe number of short rifles at present ordered for land service, exclusive of India, is 165,000. The number required to arm the mounted troops and to replace carbines with other units is 150,000, in addition to which the necessary reserves are required. The stock of long rifles is sufficient to arm all dismounted troops armed with rifles.
§ CAPTAIN NORTONCannot the hon. Gentleman give me the number in stock?
§ * MR. BROMLEY DAVENPORTIt is not deemed desirable to publish the number in reserve.