§ 29. Mr. Benceasked the Secretary of State for War what steps he is taking to enable Scottish industry to manufacture under licence the Belgian machine gun now being purchased from Belgium for Her Majesty's Forces.
§ The Secretary of State for War (Mr. John Profumo)None, Sir. Our small arms production is concentrated at the Royal Small Arms Factory, Enfield, where the bulk of the Army's requirement for the general purpose machine gun is being made.
§ Mr. BenceI am amazed by that Answer. Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that his right hon. Friends are advocating the placing of Government work in development districts, and that the Burgh of Clydebank is in a development district? At one time we had a Royal Ordnance factory there. Is he aware that 3,000 jobs were taken out of Clydebank? Is it not his duty in equipping British troops to place orders in Clydebank for Swedish, Belgian and Italian guns in order to bring these jobs back to Clydebank?
§ Mr. ProfumoThis is a Belgian gun which is having to be made here under licence. Not enough are being made to divide the order, and the prime order must go to the Royal Ordnance factory.