§ Mr. SWANasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Munitions what has been the expenditure on munitions during the current financial year; and what is the present monthly rate of expenditure on the production or purchase of munitions?
§ Mr. JAMES HOPEThe expenditure during the current financial year on the purchase and production of munitions of war, on contracts and orders which have been placed since the Armistice, has been approximately £5,000,000, and the present monthly rate of expenditure on these contracts and orders is about £500,000. I should add that, owing to the existence of large supplies of munitions, on pre-Armistice contracts and orders, the figures given above are much lower than those which would obtain under normal peace conditions.