§ 76. Mr. Hobsonasked the Minister of Supply if he will re-open the Steeton Royal Ordnance Factory, Yorkshire, in view of the availability of local labour.
§ Mr. SandysNo. It would not, I am afraid, be justified since there is already sufficient capacity elsewhere for the armament production for which this factory is equipped.
§ 81. Mr. G. R. Straussasked the Minister of Supply whether he will give details of the changes he is making in the organisation of the Royal Ordnance factories; and whether he will give the names of those who will form the Board of Management, and who the chairman of that board will be.
§ Mr. SandysThe main change is the establishment of a Board of Management. The Chairman of the Board is the Controller of Supplies (Munitions) of the Ministry of Supply. There are three nonofficial members, Mr. C. E. K. Hague, of Babcock and Wilcox, Limited, who is Vice-Chairman; Mr. Henry Benson of Cooper Brothers; and Dr. James Taylor,180W of I.C.I., Limited. The other members are Ministry of Supply officials. The Board will be assisted by an Executive Committee under the Chairmanship of the Director-General of Ordnance Factories which will be responsible for the execution of the policy decided by the Board.
A number of other changes are being made to give the Royal Ordnance factories greater autonomy in finance and administration.