§ Mr. SHINWELLasked the First Lord of the Admiralty the reason for incurring expenditure in the laying out of entirely new plant for charts and maps at Cricklewood when the work could be done at the Ordnance Survey at Southampton, where ample facilities exist for coping with work of this description; whether he is aware that during the War the Ordnance Survey coped, not only with Admiralty work, but with War Office and Air requirements; and whether he will make careful inquiries as to the Southampton facilities before proceeding further with the work at Cricklewood?
§ Mr. AMERY:The hon. Member was informed by the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the 7th March of the reasons why the work could not be done at Southampton. The only work done for the Admiralty at Southampton during the War was some confidential lithographic work which could not be given out to contract. We hope to begin operations at the Cricklewood factory, which is practically finished, by the end of next month.