HC Deb 27 September 1944 vol 403 c251W
Colonel Lyons

asked the President of the Board of Trade what policy the Government have planned to maintain employment in the heavy engineering trade during the transition period between the reduction in official orders and the placing of the civil reconstruction work urgently awaiting attention.

Captain Waterhouse

Special attention is being given to the practical steps required to secure the smooth transition from work on war contracts to work on civil orders. Information has been obtained from the engineering industry about the rate at which individual firms would like to have their war work tapered off, and this information has been placed before the Supply Departments. Attention is also being paid to the provision of materials and to enabling engineering firms to use key workers, such as designers, for preparatory work.