HC Deb 27 February 1919 vol 112 cc2055-6

Motion made, and Question proposed, That a Supplementary sum, not exceeding £100, be granted to His Majesty to defray the Charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day of March, 1919, for the Expenses of the Ordnance Factories, the cost of the production of which will be charged to the Army, Navy, Ministry of Munitions, and Indian and Colonial Governments, etc.

Brigadier-General COLVIN

I have put down the Motion which stands in my name, to reduce the Vote by £100, in order to draw attention to the very great hardship that will be imposed upon Waltham Abbey if the Royal Gunpowder Factory there is closed.

The CHAIRMAN

I am afraid that does not arise on this Vote. This is purely a Supplementary and book-keeping Vote. A question of policy like that raised by the hon. and gallant Gentleman must be raised on the main Estimates of the year.

Colonel BOWLES

The object which I had in view in putting down my Motion to reduce the Vote by £10 is to draw attention to the number of men likely to be affected at the Royal Small Arms Factory at Enfield, and to draw attention to the question of gratuities and pay to those men who are considered to be of old age. I do not know whether you would rule out of order the suggestion that the gratuity that we used to give to men in pre-war time should be increased because of the very large increase in the cost of living.

The CHAIRMAN

That, again, is a matter of policy which should be raised on the main Estimates.