asked the Minister of Supply what were our imports of collets from Switzerland before the war; and what steps are being taken by the Machine Tool Controller to increase home production, now that this source of supply is cut off?

The analysis of our imports is not sufficiently detailed to enable me to give figures of imports of collets from Switzerland before the war. As to the last part of the Question, suitable steps have been taken by the Machine Tool Controller to augment home production to cover our requirements, but it will not be expected that I should disclose the details.

Will the Minister inform the House what a collet is?

A collet is used in the headstock of a lathe for the purpose of gripping the bars upon which the lathe is working. Collets are used also for gripping, in the case of milling machines. I hope that nobody else will ask me anything about them. I have now got to the end of my resources.