§ 34. Sir A. MARKHAMasked the Minister of Munitions whether the manufacture of anti-aircraft guns for Home defence has now priority over other ordnance; if so, on what date did he issue such instructions to the manufacturers of ordnance?
The PARLIAMENTARY (MILITARY) SECRETARY to the MUNITIONS DEPARTMENT (Colonel Lee)Under instructions issued on 10th February the manufacture of certain anti-aircraft guns for Home defence was given priority over that of certain classes of field guns of which the existing and prospective deliveries were so large that it was possible to adopt the above course without detriment to military interests.
§ Sir A. MARKHAMAre we to understand that we have so many field guns that these field guns are not necessary for the front?
§ Colonel LEENo, Sir. If the hon. Gentleman looks at my answer he will see that the existing and prospective deliveries were so large that it was possible to adopt this course without detriment to military interests. It was only to make provision for a certain number of guns of this nature, and there is no intention whatever of taking any action whatever that will be detrimental to the interests of any of our arms.
§ 53. Sir A. MARKHAMasked the Prime Minister whether, seeing that he took the ordering of ordnance and the design of guns out of the control of Lord Kitchener last autumn and placed the same in the hands of the Minister of Munitions, he will say whether he authorised Lord Kitchener to state that the construction of anti-aircraft guns for Home defence has now priority over other ordnance; and, if so, will he say what are the reasons which led His Majesty's Government to take this step to the detriment of the men fighting in the field?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThe accelerated manufacture of anti-aircraft guns will not be to the detriment of the supply of the forces in the field. The priority given to the production of such guns, which was the result of a decision of the War Committee, will only effect certain classes of lighter ordnance with which the Army is already well supplied. Lord Kitchener made his view clear by a statement in another part of his speech:
The people of this country do not desire to give too great importance to these attacks or allow them to affect our military operations.
§ Sir A. MARKHAMIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Munitions stated that anti-aircraft guns had been given precedence of field guns in manufacture, and that many field guns at the present time are very badly worn and at present require to be renewed?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThat is not so.
§ Sir A. MARKHAMHe said so.