§ 42. Colonel Burtonasked the Minister of Supply whether he has now had an opportunity to inquire into the suggested use of machinery which is available in the United States of America and can produce grenades of from 1 to 50 lb. weight at the rate of £850,000 to 1,000,000 per week?
§ Mr. H. MorrisonIt has not been necessary to make any such inquiry, as ample machinery is available in this country for the production of sufficient grenades to meet known War Office requirements.
§ Colonel BurtonIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that it was handed to his Department in September last year? 1162 Does he not know that many of the men who came back from France say that, if we had had these grenades in the numbers at which they can be produced, we might easily have repelled the German advance?
§ Mr. MorrisonI cannot answer that, because I was not there in September last year.
Colonel Arthur EvansIs the House to understand that there are sufficient hand grenades available in this country to meet all the requirements of the War Office?
§ Mr. MorrisonI have taken all appropriate steps in that direction, and the productive capacity of the country is very considerable. In the circumstances I do not see the need to go to America for this product.
§ Mr. MorrisonYes, Sir.