§ 33. Mr. Dayasked the Secretary of State for War whether the Bren light 158 machine-gun is now being manufactured at the Royal Small Arms Factory, Enfield, in sufficient numbers to meet with Army requirements; and whether this gun is now being constructed exclusively at Government factories?
§ The Secretary of State for War (Mr. Hore-Belisha)Yes, Sir, and the output is being enlarged. In addition, capacity is being created in Canada, and I am glad to learn that Australia, South Africa, and India also contemplate setting up factories for the manufacture of these weapons.
§ Mr. Hore-BelishaThese are mainly sub-contracted.
§ Mr. BellengerAre these Bren machine guns still being manufactured in this country under licence of a foreign patentee, of a country which is now incorporated in the German Reich?
§ Mr. Hore-BelishaThese are our own guns, and we have complete rights. If the hon. Gentleman wishes any details about them, I will let him have them.
§ Sir Edmund FindlayWere not these rights Czecho-Slovakian rights, and, therefore, have we not the absolute right of manufacture without patentee rights?
§ Mr. Hore-BelishaI think that is the position, but I could not answer definitely without notice.
§ Commander Sir Archibald SouthbyCan my right hon. Friend say whether the issue of the Bren machine guns to the Regular Army is now up to war standard?
§ Mr. Hore-BelishaYes, Sir. All Regular infantry units, both at home and abroad, except in India and Burma, which are differently equipped, are complete to war scale.