§ Mr. Sutcliffeasked the Secretary of State for Air whether, in view of the official statements as to the shortage of skilled labour for undertaking Air Ministry contract work, he is aware of the large numbers of skilled workmen in small factories which are prepared but unable to obtain such work; and whether he will take steps to ensure that such small firms are better utilised in the rearmament programme?
Captain BalfourAs my right hon. Friend informed the House on 10th November he has paid special attention to the question of sub-contracting with a view to utilising the engineering resources of the country as widely as possible. He has requested aircraft firms to sub-contract1986W a substantial portion of their work; he has recently concluded arrangements with large industrial concerns for the development of extensive sub-contracting systems for the production of aircraft, and there is a separate Directorate to develop subcontracting under the Director General of Production at the Air Ministry. He feels that all these measures should result in advantage being taken of suitable facilities which may be available in a factory such as my hon. Friend has in mind.