§ Mr. TOOTILLasked the Minister of Munitions how many skilled and semiskilled men have already been transferred from the Navy and Army to do munition work of essential national importance; how many are still available, and does he intend to utilise the men referred to as emergencies may arise; what proportion of men now fully trained and marking time in the barracks and camps are both anxious and willing to employ their skill land energy in the production of necessary munitions; and, if so, why they are not allowed to do so.
§ Mr. KELLAWAYOn 10th April, 1917, there were, as far as it is possible to ascertain accurately, between 45,000 and 50,000 soldiers engaged on the manufacture of munitions. My hon. Friend will appreciate that as soldiers are being released from and returned to the Army on the completion of their jobs, and for various other reasons, it is impossible to give any definite figure. The number of men released from the Navy who are engaged on munitions work is about 640. It is not possible to give the numbers of such men still available from the Army, but the War Office are continually releasing men at the Ministry's request, on an application being received from a firm engaged on urgent war work and the type of skill necessary not being obtainable from civilian sources.