§ 84. Colonel WEDGWOODasked the Minister of Munitions whether his Department 438 can take any steps to meet the unemployment in the Potteries district, consequent on the cutting off of the coal supply, by giving that district the benefit of any new war work?
§ Mr. KELLAWAYWhilst I shall be glad to do anything possible to meet the desire of my hon. and gallant Friend, and will see if any arrangements can be made, I am bound to point out that, in placing munitions contracts, the governing consideration must be reliability and rapidity of supply.
§ Colonel WEDGWOODIf any new processes have to come before the Ministry, involving new manufactures, will my hon. Friend remember that this district has been starving and is suffering very severely at present from unemployment?
§ Mr. KELLAWAYCertainly I will consider all the considerations which are proper to be considered.
§ 85. Colonel WEDGWOODasked the Minister of Munitions whether any of the money to be spent in connection with the extraction of oil from coal is being spent in North Staffordshire, in view of the unemployment in the district caused by the cutting off of the coal supplies and of the suitability of the coal?
§ Mr. KELLAWAYThe question of dealing with North Staffordshire cannel is under consideration. I would however, point out that the scheme, which is for the utilisation of cannel at gasworks, does not involve the employment of additional labour in the process of car-bonisation, and to that extent it would not be of assistance in relieving unemployment.