§ Mr. W. A. Robinsonasked the Minister of Supply whether his attention has been drawn to the desirability of allocating certain phases of munitions production to the town of St. Helens, Lancashire, as was done between the years of 1914 and 1918, as this town is in a neutral area and has, at present, large unemployment figures?
§ Mr. BurginFirms in areas with a high rate of unemployment receive preference, other things being equal, in the allocation of Ministry of Supply contracts. There are a number of firms in St. Helens who are on the Ministry's contracts lists, and if there are additional firms who desire their capacity for munitions production to be investigated, they should apply to the Area Officer, Piccadilly House, Piccadilly, Manchester.
New munition factories are erected so far as possible in districts having a high rate of unemployment, and the claims of this part of Lancashire have not been overlooked.