§ Dr. Littleasked the Minister of Supply whether, as there are exceptional facilities and abundant labour in Northern Ireland to increase considerably the production of munitions of war, he will give orders to have a war factory erected there and meantime assign much more war work to that area, in order to provide employ- 1022W ment for those who are anxious to do their utmost to assure victory to Britain?
§ Mr. Harold MacmillanThe question of erecting a munitions factory in Northern Ireland has recently been examined carefully by the Ministry of Supply. It has been decided, however, that the disadvantages involved in placing a factory in this area outweigh the advantages. My hon. Friend will not expect me to go into explanatory details which might assist the enemy. With regard to the latter portion of my hon. Friend's Question, my right hon. Friend is anxious to make the fullest possible use of the productive capacity of Northern Ireland, and I may mention that during the past four months additional contracts have been placed there by the Ministry aggregating more than £2,500,000.