§ Mr. PULLEYasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Munitions if he will state the nature of the goods which are being stored at the national factory, Rotherwas, Hereford; whether this necessitates repairs being executed; and, if so, whether this work is being done on the spot; will he state the number of officials and operatives employed at this factory at the present time and the total salaries and wages paid to them during one month and give the corresponding figures for the same period last year; and will he further state whether it is still the intention of the Government to retain the whole of this factory for national purposes?
§ Mr. KELLAWAYThe work which is at present being done at the Hereford National Factory does not involve any repairs, but consists of the emptying of high explosive shells and bombs; to this work has recently been added the removal and separation of the driving bands and other valuable metal portions. It is proposed shortly also to break up shrapnel shells at this factory, and to recover the steel, brass, lead and resin contained in them. The number of officials and operatives at present employed are respectively 99 (52 men and 47 women) and 923 (550 men, 373 women). In this return foremen and forewomen are classed among the officials. The corresponding figures for March, 1918, were: 178 officials (81 men, 97 women), and 4,398 operatives (1,229 men, 3,169 women). The total salaries and wages paid uring the four weeks ending 31st March were: £10,339 for March, 1919, and2550W £58,993 for March, 1918. It is the present intention of the Government to retain the whole of this factory for national purposes.