§ Mr. Ness Edwardsasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Supply in how many instances has the Ministry of Supply had to change the management of factories engaged in war production; what are his powers in this respect; and what policy is the Ministry committed to in regard to this matter?
§ Mr. Harold MacmillanWith regard to the first part of the Question, I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for Cheltenham (Mr. Lipson) on 11th December. The Minister's powers to change the management of an undertaking and to acquire all the shares in a company are set out in Defence Regulations 55 (4) and 78. The management will be changed in any case where that course appears to the Minister to be necessary in the interests of munitions production. Changes in management have often been and will often be secured as the result of representations by the Ministry without the exercise of compulsory powers.