§ 28 Mr. Ernest Daviesasked the Minister of Supply and of Aircraft Production (1) If he is yet able to announce his production programme for the Royal Ordnance factories it is proposed to maintain in operation;
If he will give the minimum figure to which employment will be reduced in each of the 19 Royal Ordnance factories, respectively, which are to be maintained in production; and
Whether he will cease reductions in establishments of Royal Ordnance factories until their production programmes have been decided upon.
§ Mr. WilmotThe production programme for the Royal Ordnance Factories cannot be completed until the Service Departments, who are at present re-assessing 1902 their requirements, have formulated definite programmes, but it is our intention that, alter satisfying the needs of the Services, the Royal Ordnance Factories shall play a full part in meeting essential civilian requirements including supplies for the housing programme. My hon. Friend will, therefore, appreciate that it would be premature to give figures of nucleus employment, factory by factory, as the level of production is not yet settled and we are in process of considerable re-planning and re-equipping for civilian production. Reductions in the labour strengths at some of the Royal Ordnance Factories must, however, continue in view of the severe curtailment of Service demands for warlike stores.
§ Mr. DaviesCannot the Minister possibly give some indication of the minimum strength of the establishment in certain of these Ordnance factories in view of the uncertainty which prevails at the present time amongst employees there?
§ Mr. WilmotCertainly, I will do that as soon as possible.
§ Mr. Hector HughesWhat does the Minister propose to do about those factories he does not intend to keep in operation, such, for instance, as the Tullos factory in Aberdeen?
§ Mr. WilmotI am afraid I cannot go into details about any particular factory, without notice.