§ Mr. NEWMANasked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether, owing to the depletion of the stock in hand of certain component parts necessary for the manufacture of the Army rifle, the authorities at the Small Arms Factory, Enfield, have been obliged to suspend for some days past a number of employés; and what measures he proposes to take to maintain sufficient stock in order that any necessary process of manufacture may not have to be suspended owing to shortage of material?
§ Colonel SEELYOwing to the rearrangement of work entailed by the impending completion of orders for conversion of long rifles to charger loading at a time when the orders for the current year had not been finally determined, there was a temporary shortage of work caused which affected about sixty men. The suspension of men practically ceased on Tuesday, only three men having been Bus-pended yesterday. There has been no shortage of material.