49 and 50. Mr. Shawerossasked the Minister of Defence (1) the number of civilians estimated to be engaged throughout the coming financial year directly or indirectly in providing supplies for the Armed Forces, including food, oil, fuel and other consumable stores, transport of personnel and stores, and public services, including posts and telegraphs;
(2) whether the figure of 459,000 referred to in paragraph 15 of the State- 68W ment relating to Defence, Cmd. 7042/47, relates to civilians directly engaged in production, research and development for the Armed Forces; and if he will publish the estimated number of civilians engaged indirectly in the supply of fuel and power, raw materials, transport and public services required for such production, etc.
§ Mr. AlexanderThe figure of 459,000 to which my hon. Friend refers was the total manpower directly engaged in meetting the production and related requirements of the Services on 31st December last. The corresponding figure for the coming financial year is estimated to be approximately 450,000. I regret that I am not able to estimate what proportion of the working population will be indirectly employed during the year in meeting the needs of the Armed Forces, as distinct from those of the rest of the population.