§ Mr. G. LOCKER-LAMPSONasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Munitions what progress is being made with the demobilisation of the Factory Construction Department, the Mechanical Warfare Overseas Department, and the Munitions Shipping, Finance, and Losses Section; and how soon the offices occupied by the last-named body are likely to be returned to their proper tenants?
§ Mr. KELLAWAYThe work of terminating the Factory Construction Department is still proceeding on the lines indicated in my reply to the hon. Member's question of the 10th April. No further reduction in the staff of fourteen persons now employed has been affected since that date, but, as then stated, the work of the Department will probably be completed by the end of June. The staff of the Mechanical Warfare (Overseas and Allies) Department which, at the date of the Armistice numbered thirty-four persons, has been further reduced to nine, and negotiations are now being concluded with the War Office as the result of which this staff will either be disbanded or trans-1376W ferred to that Department. As stated in my reply to the hon. Member's question of the 10th April, the work of the Munitions, Shipping, Finance and Losses Section must continue for some time, and no change affecting the position of this Department has since then taken place. Arrangements have been made by which the offices occupied by the last named Department will be vacated by the Ministry on the 13th instant. The postponement of the date by which vacation of the premises was originally contemplated was due to the fact that the offices into which the staff were to be transferred had to be diverted to meet an unforseen and more urgent demand for accommodation for another Department.