68. Mr. Macleanasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Supply whether he is aware that, in a factory, the situation of which has been made known to him, machinery has now been standing idle for months; that a heavy vertical drilling machine and a horizontal milling machine have been ready for use for six months and have never been used; that a lathe has been in the shop for six months and has not been grounded; and whether he will investigate the reasons for this waste?
§ Mr. Harold MacmillanA milling and a drilling machine of the types referred to by the hon. Member are installed in the 759 millwright's shop and have been available for repairs to heavy plant. Happily no occasion for their use for this purpose has yet arisen, and other developments at the factory will soon provide additional uses for these machines. The lathe was delivered in advance of other plant with which it is to be balanced, but which was available only for later delivery.
Mr. MacleanIs it not clear from the hon. Gentleman's reply that the statement made in my Question was correct, and that a great deal of this sort of thing is going on in this particular factory, and will be make an investigation into what is taking place there?
§ Mr. MacmillanThe proper use of machine tools in both private and Royal Ordnance factories is the continuous concern of the Machine Tools Control.
Mr. MacleanDoes that cover the management of the particular factory in which these tools have been installed?
§ Mr. MacmillanIt is not uncommon, in building up a new plant, that there should be a period when there is a lack of balance in the tools installed because some have been delivered and others have not.