§ Mr. LUNNasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Munitions what was the cost to the country of the munition factory at Gretna; whether any part of it is still in use: and what permanent use it is proposed to make of it?
§ Mr. KELLAWAYThe total capital expenditure on the building and equipment of the Gretna Green Explosives Factory has been £9,230,143. The working cost has been £14,846,697, and the value of the cordite produced £16,690,246. The cost of obtaining this quantity of cordite from America, on whom we were formerly dependent, would have been £26,253,686. A section of the factory is being prepared for, and will soon be working on, the repair of wagons for the Government pool, and certain work in connection with the denaturing of ether is being carried out in the other section; otherwise the work is mainly care and maintenance and disposal of surplus material and plant. It is proposed to retain the factory permanently for the production of propellants.