§ 12. Sir RICHARD COOPERasked the Minister for Munitions what are the powers of local munitions committees?
§ Mr. LLOYD GEORGEThe primary business of local munitions committees is to examine and organise the resources of the locality for the output of munitions of war. The work of the committees naturally varies according to the special circumstances of each district.
§ Sir R. COOPERCan the right hon. Gentleman say what are the explicit powers which these committees will have in view of the fact that manufacturers upon whom he is depending for immediate co-operation are under very grave anxiety as to how far they are going to be under the thumb and the power of these local committees?
§ Mr. LLOYD GEORGEI must say that that anxiety has not reached me, and I do not think the War Office or the Admiralty have heard anything of it. On the contrary, from all I hear, manufacturers are very glad to co-operate.
§ Sir R. COOPERIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that to-day, in Leeds, one manufacturer for this very reason has put up his machinery at public auction, which otherwise he was going to use for the manufacture of shells, for which he has been trying to get a contract with the War Office since the middle of April last?
§ Mr. LLOYD GEORGEIf the hon. Gentleman will give me the name I will either take steps to buy the machinery, of which we are sadly in need, or utilise his services.