§ 17. Mr. SNELLasked the Secretary of State for War whether the average cost of standard small-arms ammunition produced in the Royal Arsenal at Woolwich is higher or lower than the price paid to private firms supplying the same class of stores?
§ 18. Mr. T. KENNEDYasked the Secretary of State for War if the average cost of production of standard small-arms ammunition in the Royal Arsenal at Woolwich is higher or lower than the prices paid to private firms for the same class of stores?
§ Sir L. WORTHINGTON-EVANS:The cost of small-arms ammunition produced in the ordnance factories depends upon the proportion of overhead charges debited to the manufacture; any comparison with the price paid to private firms is likely to mislead unless this and other conditions are taken into account. The trade prices are not out of proportion to the ordnance factory cost