§ 54. Mr. Levyasked the Minister of Supply what is the machinery for maintaining constant contact between the Ministry and its various controls and industries which are on war work?
§ Mr. BurginAs regards the control of raw materials, it would not be possible, within the compass of a Parliamentary answer, to describe in detail the arrangements for day-to-day contact between the Ministry, its control organisations and the various industries concerned. In general, however, it may be said that, apart from communications with firms and sectional organisations on matters arising from day to day, contact between a control and the industries concerned is maintained chiefly by advisory committees covering various aspects of the trade. As regards the production of munitions, contact with industry is maintained by constant consultation with the leaders of industry and heads of the main firms concerned; by the regular visits of representatives of the Ministry to all manufacturing establishments; and through inspectors and area officers. I am glad to be able to add that an advisory committee has recently been appointed by the Trades Union Congress to maintain touch with the Ministry.
§ Mr. LevyAm I to understand from that answer that there really is no 1221 Ministerial machinery other than these complicated arrangements which my right hon. Friend has just described?
§ Mr. BurginNo, Sir. My hon. Friend would be quite wrong in understanding anything of the kind.