HC Deb 12 February 1942 vol 377 cc1592-3W
Major Lyons

asked the Secretary of State for India whether he has satisfied himself that nothing more can be done to accelerate the munition effort in India by sending overseas more selected engineer trainees for practical training in factories in the neighbouring Dominions, United Kingdom or North America; and whether, in co-operation with the appropriate Government Departments, he has now arranged that every available machine-tool and mechanically-skilled Indian temporarily resident elsewhere has been brought in to help in the Indian war effort?

Mr. Amery

I am satisfied that the needs of India must be met for the most part by the extensive and well-planned arrangements which have been organised in India by the Indian authorities for the training of labour. The possibility of having Indians trained in other countries is severely limited by shipping difficulties and other reasons, and similarly there is no great scope for increasing India's re sources by arranging the return to India of Indian mechanics employed elsewhere. I am also satisfied that, having regard to all the difficulties, India is getting a reasonable share of the machine tools available.