§ Mr. WILLIAM O'BRIENasked the Minister of Munitions whether he has been made aware that, considering that the city and county of Cork have furnished a larger number of recruits to the New Army than the other counties of Munster put together and more than double the number 912W supplied by the province of Connaught, as well as paying additional war taxation to a great amount, a feeling prevails that some return ought to be made by the establishment of a munitions-filling factory in Cork; and whether he will inquire into the justice and advantage to the public service of that claim?
§ Mr. LLOYD GEORGEThe choice of localities for filling factories must be made primarily with regard to the availability of empty shell components, explosives, and other constituents in the immediate neighbourhood. Adequate capacity for all filling required in the British Isles has already been arranged. The point raised by my hon. Friend will be borne in mind, but having regard to the conditions mentioned above, I could not hold out any great hope of being able to meet his wishes.