§ 32. Mr. J. DAVISONasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Munitions whether he is aware of the numerous discharges taking place at the Government cartridge factory, No. 3, Blackpole; whether he is aware that many of the men employed at this factory came from other districts and settled down in Worcester with their families, and that the lack of any information as to the future of the factory and the possibility of re-employment is causing inconvenience; and whether it is the intention to close the factory down entirely or whether there is any prospect of re-engaging the discharged men on other work?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the MINISTRY of MUNITIONS (Mr. James Hope)It is proposed that this factory should be retained, for the present, under Government control. In view of the large stocks in the possession of the military authorities. I am afraid there is no likelihood that manufacture will be resumed in this factory in the near future. It is probable that the factory will be need, for storage, in which case 1 fear the number of employés cannot be large.