§ Mr. STUART-WORTLEYasked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that unemployment exists in the bayonet trade, and that skilled men, who have spent the best portion of their lives in that trade, have had to take work as labourers; whether this is due to the cessation of orders to private manufacturers; and whether he can undertake that, in the distribution of coming orders for bayonets, the private firms will be allotted their due share?
§ Mr. SAMUEL ROBERTSasked the Secretary of State for War whether, in view of the fact that no orders for bayonets have been placed at Sheffield during the last two years, when the new orders are given out he will see that a fair share of such orders is given to private firms?
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Mr. BAKERThe amount of bayonet work which will be required during the current year, as far as can be foreseen at present, barely suffices to keep a small nucleus of men employed at Enfield. I regret that there is, therefore, no opportunity of placing orders elsewhere.