§ Captain Pluggeasked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware of the difficulties of firms such as Messrs. John Moncrieff, Limited, the Worcester Royal Porcelain Company, and other firms producing scientific glass products, in obtaining an adequate number of highly-skilled workers essential for their activities; and 996W whether he can give an assurance that he will do everything possible to assist these firms in obtaining the release from the Fighting Services of the workers they require?
§ Mr. E. BrownI am aware of the urgent demand for qualified workers of the kinds described. The question of the release of such men from the Fighting Services is one for consideration by the Service Departments in the light of any representations that may be made to them by the Department which is interested in the products of the firm making the application.
§ Captain Pluggeasked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that the Glass Manufacturers' Federation was recently informed by the War Office that no more men could be released from the Army to undertake vital skilled work in factories producing scientific instruments, glassware and other products essential to many branches of British industry; and whether, in view of the fact that the position is still far from satisfactory, he will arrange for the matter to be reviewed at the earliest opportunity?
§ Mr. StanleyThere has been considerable correspondence between the War Office and the Glass Manufacturers' Federation, in the course of which they have been informed that, apart from the scheme under which certain men in special categories of civil employment have been and are being released from the Territorial Army, releases from the Army to any branch of industry could be considered only on the recommendation of the appropriate Government Department. Certain releases have been approved, and further releases could not be granted unless the circumstances were very exceptional.