§ 73. Sir C. KINLOCH-COOKEasked the Prime Minister whether he is aware of the number of men of military age, many of them single and under thirty years of age, still employed at the Ministry of Munitions; that the majority of these men cannot be considered as indispensable from the standpoint of qualifications; and will he cause a thorough investigation of this Department to be made by a well qualified business man with power to report to some authority independent of the Ministry of Munitions?
§ The MINISTER OF MUNITIONS (Dr. Addison)The hon. Member is evidently not aware that a thorough investigation of the Department from the military service point of view has recently been made by a Committee, including two business men appointed with the concurrence of the War Office and unconnected with the Ministry, who have had a wide experience of "combing out" business firms. I am sending him a copy of the Committee's report. Out of a total staff of over 7,500 at the Ministry of Munitions, only seventy-three men between the ages of eighteen and thirty inclusive are being retained who are fit for general service, of whom thirty-six are single. These men are retained on account of their technical qualifications.