§ Captain BOWYER asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the recent statement in the House that steps had been taken to secure additional alternative work at the Royal Ordnance Factories, both at Woolwich and Enfield, he will state whether it is the intention of Government to use these factories in competition with private firms; whether there has been any change in the policy of the Government towards this question, as defined on 5th March, 1919, by the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of 1673W Munitions, when it was definitely stated that the Government did not propose to use national factories for competition with private traders; and what is the intention of His Majesty's Government with regard to the future use of the Royal Ordnance Factories?
§ Mr. CHURCHILL: My right hon. Friend has asked me to reply. I am afraid I can add little to my statement on 23rd June in answer to a question by the hon. Member for Woolwich West (Sir K. Wood). The Government's intention is that the factories at Woolwich and Enfield should be placed in a position to act as sub-contractors to engineering firms when so requested by firms, and to this extent a departure is involved from the policy defined on 5th March, 1919, by the then Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Munitions. As I stated in my reply on the 23rd June, the policy now being followed is a temporary one. The future of the Royal Ordnance factories will be carefully considered by the War Office.