§ COLONEL BOWLES (Middlesex, Enfield)To ask the Secretary of State for India whether he can state the price paid for rifles bought by the Indian Government this financial year, and the number of rifles thus purchased from the Home Government.
(Answered by Mr. Secretary Brodrick.) The price paid for magazine Lee-Enfield rifles in 1904–5 is £4 9s. 6d. per arm, 1181 including cost of inspection and other departmental expenses. This rate is, however, subject to adjustment when the actual cost of manufacture in the Royal Ordnance Factories has been ascertained. The number of rifles purchased was 92,574.