§ Mr. NEWMANasked the Undersecretary of State for War whether the military representatives of our self-governing dominions have been kept in touch with the experiments and progress made in connection with the contemplated new Army rifle; whether they have a representative on the Small Arms Committee; and whether, in the event of the answer being in the negative, the War Office will see their way to invite at least one Dominion representative to serve on the said committee?
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§ Colonel SEELYCertain communications have been made to the self-governing Colonies concerning the proposed new rifle and ammunition. They are not represented on the Small Arms Committee.
MARQUESS of TULLIBARDINEasked the Under-Secretary of State for War, what is the estimated cost of re-arming the Army at home and abroad, including Special Reserve and Territorial Forces, with the converted rifle; and what has been, roughly, the additional cost, above the normal, due to the change of ammunition, including change of machinery and experiments?
§ Colonel SEELYThe cost of calling in, re-sighting, and reissuing a rifle averages about 3s. 9d. The new arm with the new sighting costs no more than with the old. I am unable to give the exact figure. The cost of the new pattern ammunition over that of the former pattern up to the end of the current financial year is estimated at £70,000, including, change of machinery and experiments.
MARQUESS of TULLIBARDINEasked the Under-Secretary of State for War what is the number of the new (not converted) rifle already manufactured; and whether general manufacture of the same has commenced?
§ Colonel SEELYThe rifle is still in the experimental stage, and no manufacture, therefore, has commenced.