§ Captain BOWYERasked the Secretary of State for War whether it is the intention of His Majesty's Government to confine itself to seeking work or taking subcontracts direct from the actual manufacturers of the products that the Arsenal wishes to make?
§ Sir A. WILLIAMSONI would refer the hon. Member to the answer given by me on 30th November last in reply to a question by the hon. and gallant Member for Dulwich (Sir F. Hall).
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§ Captain BOWYERasked the Secretary of State for War the number of men at present employed at Woolwich Arsenal and at the Government factories at Waltham and Lancaster, respectively; for what purpose it is proposed to employ these factories; whether any of them will be used for manufacturing products other than those required by His Majesty's Government for military purposes; and, if so, what arrangement is being made for disposing of the articles thus manufactured?
§ Sir A. WILLIAMSONThe numbers at present employed are:—Woolwich, 13,200; Waltham, 619; Lancaster, 685. It is proposed to employ Woolwich Arsenal as far as practicable on work required for His Majesty's Government. The future of the factory at Waltham is being considered by the Government. The factory at Lancaster is at present fully engaged on the repair of wagons and the re-conditioning of machinery, prior to sale; its future will be considered later on.