HC Deb 28 November 1944 vol 404 c2393
48. Captain Gammans

asked the Prime Minister if he is satisfied that the production of shells is adequate to meet the present and anticipated expenditure in Western Europe.

The Prime Minister

Ammunition supply is constantly reviewed. Nine months ago we opened up our shell filling and making plants again on a large scale on account of impending operations and the immense piling up of reserves which had occurred earlier, and had led to a temporary damping down. That was nine months ago. Since then further important expansions have been made, and I am prepared to say that, providing factory workers maintain—and they may even improve upon—the present planned output, there is no reason to suppose that the British Armies will be short of the necessary ammunition to fight their battles. We have also very considerable reserves, the use of which depends upon the varying estimates made as to the duration of the German resistance.

Captain Gammans

Does the Prime Minister's assurance cover not only Western Europe, but all theatres of war?

The Prime Minister

Yes, Sir. Expenditure on the Burmese front is not on the scale of the great bombardments of Western Europe. Transport, rather than quantities of ammunition, is the governing factor in South-East Asia.