§ Mr. HANCOCKasked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he can give the names of the rifle manufacturing firms which, at any time since 1912, have supplied the War Department with rifles, and the amount expended in these purchases for each year since then?
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§ Mr. GWYNNEIn 1912–13 orders to the value of about £40,000 were placed on behalf of the War Department with the Birmingham Small Arms Company and the London Small Arms Company. In 1913–14 no orders were placed on behalf of the War Department with the trade. During the War, responsibility for purchase of rifles was transferred from the War Office to the Ministry of Munitions, and I have no information as to the value of the orders placed. Since the Armistice, no orders for rifles have been placed with the trade.