§ Mr. Parkerasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food to what extent it has been possible up to date to apply concentration and pooling arrangements to the manufacture of food and medicinal products, and to what extent these arrangements have released technical and scientific man-power for war purposes?
§ Mr. MabaneConcentration schemes are already in operation for most of the food manufacturing and processing industries that are capable of concentration. My Department has no responsibility for the concentration of industries engaged in the manufacture of medicinal products, but I understand from my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade that concentration has, not been applied to these industries. The food schemes in operation have resulted in the release of considerable numbers of workers of all types for other essential purposes, but I have no information regarding the specific classes mentioned in the last part of my hon. Friend's Question.