§ Mr. NEWMANasked the Under-Secretary of State for War (1) whether his attention has been drawn to a recent statement, made by the manager of a British firm engaged in sword manufacture, that the swords purchased by officers in our Army are frequently weapons wholly or in part of German manufacture, exported to this country and sold at a price at which it is not possible for home manufacturers to compete; and, if so, what action he proposes to take to stop this practice; and (2) whether, in view of the fact that the requirements of the commissioned ranks can be easily supplied by the Government Small Arms Factory, he will issue instructions to officers commanding units that all swords shall be obtained either directly from a Government factory or, in the alternative, that no swords shall be deemed to comply with the regulations without bearing on hilt and blade an approved stamp denoting that they are of British manufacture and up to the required Government standard?
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§ Colonel SEELYIn reply to these questions I would remind the hon. Member that officers pay for their own swords. It is not considered desirable to place any restrictions on officers as regards the source of supply of the equipment which they purchase with their own money.