HC Deb 12 May 1915 vol 71 cc1667-8W
Mr. NEEDHAM

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether a census has been taken or will be taken of engineering shops in the United Kingdom, showing the suitability of machine tools in such shops for production of war material and indicating to what extent they are working on British Government work, on Allies' Government work, and on ordinary commercial work, respectively?

Mr. LLOYD GEORGE

Inquiries have been made of likely engineering shops in the United Kingdom not known to be fully engaged in Government work with a view to ascertaining to what extent the machine tools in these shops which are not already engaged on work for His Majesty's Government or the Governments of the Allies are available for the purpose in question. The result of the inquiries has been communicated to the War Office and the Munitions Committee.