§ Mr. A. SHORTasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Munitions whether, in connection with the proposed agreement with the Ailsa Craig Motor Company, any expression of opinion has been conveyed to him that the proposals of the Ministry will enable the company to resume operations and re-ernploy their old workpeople; if so, can he state the persons who have conveyed this expression of opinion; and whether he will arrange a meeting between these persons, the representatives 939W of the workpeople, the company, and the Ministry, in order that the whole matter may be properly discussed?
Mr. J. HOPEIt is a fact that the agreement already arrived at between the company and their creditors with the assent of the Ministry of Munitions, would leave the company free to resume operations and supply them with a certain amount of working capital. I am in hopes that a supplementary agreement in the interests of the company will be shortly arrived at. Until the agreement is completed the matter must be regarded assub judice; and, in the event of completion, the company will be free to make such arrangements as they think fit with their old workpeople without the intervention of the Ministry.