§ 48. Mr. James Griffithsasked the Minister of Production what steps are being taken to establish war industries in areas where there is a substantial supply of immobile labour and no work available in the area?
§ The Minister of Production (Mr. Lyttelton)By co-operation between the Departments concerned, new war production is directed away from congested areas to areas with available labour, but in determining the location of any particular undertaking, other factors besides labour supply have to be taken into account. At the present stage of the war, however, opportunities for establishing additional production in areas with available labour are more likely to be found by the transfer of existing production units from congested areas, and, as I have explained on previous occasions, my colleagues and I are co-operating in making arrangements for this purpose wherever it is practicable to do so.
§ Mr. Ness EdwardsCan the right hon. Gentleman indicate any single case in which this is happening?
§ Mr. LytteltonThe changes in programme which have been instituted are of very short date. I think these transfers will now become a matter of urgent action.
§ Mr. J. GriffithsWill the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind that unless industries are transferred to areas where there is immobile labour a great deal of labour available for the war effort will not be utilised at all.
§ Mr. LytteltonI think it is a very important point. We must use our efforts to bring the work to the immobile labour.