HC Deb 01 December 1949 vol 470 cc123-4W
Mr. Crawley

asked the Minister of Supply what consultations have taken place in the Royal Ordnance factories, Government research departments and other branches of industry for which he shares responsibility in answer to the Prime Minister's recent appeal for greater production.

Mr. G. R. Strauss

Steps have been taken to bring the Prime Minister's appeal for increased production to the special notice of the Ministry of Supply Joint Industrial Council. In addition, each Royal Ordnance Factory has a joint production consultative and advisory committee whose function is "to consult and advise on matters relating to productivity and increased efficiency, in order that maximum output may be obtained from the factories," and these committees have been meeting at regular intervals

In the engineering industry, there have, over the last two years, been frequent discussions on the means of increasing productivity, and in many sections of the industry mutual aid schemes have been set up, through which firms help each other to improve their productive efficiency. A new force has been given to these activities by the events which gave rise to the Prime Minister's appeal. Many consultations have already taken place with sections of the industry, at which the effects of devaluation and the possibility of increasing exports, especially to the dollar countries, have been discussed in relation to productivity.

Ministry of Supply research establishments are not, of course, concerned with production in the ordinary sense, but arrangements are made to ensure that the results of research are made available to increase production wherever they are likely to do so.