§ 33 and 35. Mr. Ellis Smithasked the Secretary of State for War (1) whether he is satisfied that we are obtaining, for military purposes, the best use of modern mechanical science; and what immediate steps are being taken to harness real mechanical science to the military machine and enable all lessons to be applied as expeditiously as possible;
(2) whether satisfactory arrangements have existed during the past two years to enable the Army Council to receive mechanical advice from people engaged in large-scale organisation; has the advice been applied in the design, development and production of equipment; what extension is to be made to enable the Army Council to benefit from experience gained under recent active service conditions of instruments and engineering products; and will he appoint a competent representative of modern engineering science to advise the Army Council?
§ Sir J. GriggThe design, development and production of military equipment to meet the Army's specified requirements 18 are the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Minister of Supply. The closest daily contact is maintained at all levels between the General Staff and scientific sections of the Ministry of Supply. With regard to the other points raised, I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave him on 5th May.
§ Mr. SmithHas the Minister considered the advisability of appointing an engineer-general with a civilian staff consisting of representatives of modern scientific and mechanical engineering?
§ Sir J. GriggI have considered a great many suggestions.
§ Mr. SmithCan we have an answer? Has the Minister considered the advisability of appointing an engineer-general?
§ Sir J. GriggI have considered all relevant matters in this question.
§ Mr. ShinwellDoes the right hon. Gentleman realise that he is giving the same kind of answers that we got from his predecessors?