HC Deb 18 March 1942 vol 378 c1494
25. Mr. Bossom

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works and Buildings whether his Ministry has compiled any data or caused to be made an estimate of the total number of building-trade operatives now occupied upon essential war contracts; and how many additional operatives, skilled and unskilled, are required to enable all this work to be carried forward so that it will be completed on time?

Mr. Hicks

Yes, Sir. The Ministry of Works and Buildings obtains each month from all the contracting Departments particulars of the numbers employed on contracts which they carry out or sponsor. It is estimated that the labour force now employed on these works is sufficient to complete during the 1942 building season the great majority of the works now in hand.

Mr. Bossom

Will my hon. Friend say whether they are behindhand with much of the Government work, and does he think that it would be advisable that more men should be engaged in order to make up for lost time?

Mr. Hicks

We are doing everything we can to facilitate production.