§ MR. BRANCH (Middlesex, Enfield)To ask the Secretary of State for War what orders for Lee-Enfield barrels and bodies combined have been placed with the Royal Small Arms Factory, Enfield, during the last three years; what have been the separate numbers of each order and whom from; whether from India, Home, or the Colonies; and the date of each order so placed.
(Answered by Mr. Secretary Haldane.) I would remind the hon. Member that a minimum establishment has now been fixed for Enfield, viz., 1,900 to 2,000 (slightly less than the number now employed there) and the work will be so arranged that this number is kept in constant employment, unaffected by the date and amount of foreign orders. I trust that in these circumstances my hon. friend will dispense with the figures referred to in his Question, which cover a great deal of space and are most inconvenient to print.