asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he can give the percentage of the total expenditure on ordnance, rifles, and ammunition or stores in which the trade and Government compete, given by the War Office to the Government and private establishments, respectively, for each year since 1909–10?

I regret that I am unable to give figures for the War period, during which the supply of armament stores was in the hands of the Ministry of Munitions. The percentages for the years immediately preceding and following the War are approximately as follow: