§ 72. Mr. E. Smithasked the Minister of Supply what steps have been or are to be taken to secure increased production or importation of all raw materials necessary for war purposes; what is the position with regard to oleum supplies; what is the method adopted to see that manufacturers get their supply of material in the right quantity and at the right time; how does the Ministry deal with the conflicting demands of Air Ministry and Admiralty requirements; has the programme been resolved into machine-tool requirements; and what are the plans for meeting the requirements in regard to machine-tools?
§ Mr. BurginAll necessary steps are being taken to ensure adequate supplies of raw materials, both home produced and imported, for essential needs. In particular, the oleum position is satisfactory. One of the chief objects of the controls which have been instituted over raw materials is to ensure the orderly distribution of supplies to manufacturers. Conflicting demands between Government Departments are dealt with through the machinery of the priority organisation which is administered by the Central Priority Department of the Ministry of Supply. Details of this organisation were given in reply to the hon. Member's question of 18th October. With regard to the last two parts of the question, the machine-tool requirements in connection with the present programme have been worked out and the position in regard to the supply of machine-tools has been fully surveyed and various steps have been taken or are being considered to increase the output in this country, including the installation of balancing plant.