§ 34. Mr. BYRNEasked the Minister of Munitions whether any orders for munitions have been placed in the hands of Dublin engineering firms within the past three months; if he is aware that two engineering firms that built machinery for the manufacture of munitions are about to close down for the want of orders; and if he is aware that an English firm have offered to buy their machinery to carry out an order that has been denied to Dublin?
§ Dr. ADDISONNumerous orders for munitions have been placed with Dublin engineering firms during the past three months. I have no information that any engineering firms in Dublin are about to close down for want of orders, although I understand that in certain cases contracts for shell components which are no longer required have not been renewed. In all such cases, however, endeavours are made to offer other work to the firms in question as far as possible. I have no 474 information as to the statement contained in the last part of the hon. Member's question.
§ Mr. BYRNEIf the shells are no longer required, can the right hon. Gentleman say why English firms have offered to buy the machinery which makes the shells?
§ Dr. ADDISONThe machinery may be useful for many other purposes; I do not know what it can be used for.