§ Sir P. Hannonasked the Minister of Labour whether he is now satisfied that lines of demarcation between different grades of labour which have heretofore hindered production and impeded the constant expansion of output are eliminated from the national war effort; and whether he is receiving full support of employers and trade unions in his appeal for 30 to 40 per cent. increase in supplies of munitions of war?
§ Mr. BevinEmployers and trade unions are in general co-operating wholeheartedly in all the measures necessary for increasing war production; but there are inevitably difficulties and impediments from time to time which prevent me from being completely satisfied.
§ Sir P. Hannonasked the Minister of Information whether he is promoting special effort to bring to the notice of the management and workpeople in factories and workshops engaged upon munitions production the grave situation revealed in Lord Gort's Despatches on shortage of weapons, supplies and equipment for the Fighting Services; and whether a continuous emphatic appeal is being maintained for the increased 40 per cent. output demanded by the Minister of Labour?
§ Mr. BevinI have been asked to reply. My colleagues in charge of the Production Departments, the Minister of Information and I co-operate regularly in measures to ensure that the facts of the war situation shall be put before those engaged in productive industry, both managements and workpeople; our aim is that they may be helped and encouraged to play their part in securing the maximum output of munitions. We have no reason to believe that the public generally are not already fully aware of the references in Lord Gort's despatches to shortages in the supply of munitions, and we do not, in the circumstances, con- 2063W sider that any useful purpose would be served at this date by giving them any additional publicity.