§ 5. Sir Arnold Gridleyasked the Minister of Supply how many Government owned and operated factories are still engaged on the production of war equipments and the number of employees thereat; and how many are engaged in producing other goods, giving types of product and the numbers employed in the manufacture of each.
§ Mr. WilmotAs the answer is rather long, I will, with the hon. Member's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
Following is the answer:
In addition to 23 Royal Ordnance factories, there are at present 18 Government-owned factories, operated for the Ministry by managing agents, for the production of war equipment. Some of these factories are also engaged on the production of other goods, such as housing components and on the breaking down of war material. The total number of employees is about 60,000. In reply to the second part of the Question, there are at present some 30 factories operated for the Ministry by managing agents, which are engaged on producing goods other than war equipments. The products include (among others) chemicals for fertilizers and other uses, insecticides, processing of metals, metal recovery, assembly of aluminium houses. The total numbers employed on producing other goods and on each type of product are not readily available.