§ Mr. ASHLEYasked the Minister of Munitions why six months ago he placed abroad, through the Savage Arms Company of Canada, a large order for military weapons to the value, approximately, of £1,400,000; whether a well-known small arms manufacturing company of a Midland town offered to carry out the same order at roughly two-thirds of the price; whether in both cases the order involved laying down new plant and the time for executing the order was the same; and why the need of economy and the claims of British manufacturers and workmen were ignored?
Mr. LLOYD GEOROGEThe order for the weapons referred to is not on British account. It was, in fact, placed with the Savage Arms Company subsequently to a contract with the English company. Orders have been given to the British firm for their total output over an extended period, and the Ministry have used and are using every effort to increase that output. I strongly suggest to hon. Members that it is highly undesirable that questions should be put relating to orders for particular munitions.