HC Deb 17 October 1939 vol 352 cc697-8W
Viscountess Astor

asked the Minister of Supply when he proposes to appoint a staff of inspectors sufficient to visit factories whose owners are prepared to produce war-time equipment but are not able to get contracts for needed supplies because they are not yet on the list of Government contractors?

Mr. Burgin

Officers have been appointed in areas covering the whole country to whom application can be made either by firms or industrial organisations for work on war-time equipment. These applications, backed up by the necessary information as to capacity, are then forwarded to Headquarters and, if necessary, arrangements are made to inspect. The name of the officer to whom firms in the hon. Lady's constituency should apply is:

Engr. Rear Admiral A. W. McKinlay,

Royal London House,

Queen Charlotte Street,

Bristol.

Inspection on a wide scale has already been carried out. It is not desirable, nor is it intended, that firms shall be visited unless there is in the first instance good ground for supposing they have capacity of the type required.