Mr. David Adams:

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Supply, whether he has a statement to make relative to the control of a certain Royal Ordnance Factory being placed in the hands of Messrs. Wm. Beardmore and Company?

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Supply whether he is aware that in connection with the transfer of a Royal Ordnance Factory the Foremens' Association have passed a resolution that contradicts the statement of the Minister in a letter to the Member for West Fife that there is harmony in the factory; and, as the workers have emphatically protested against the transfer and the conditions the new arrangement seeks to impose on them, will he reconsider the whole matter in consultation with the men or their representatives?

The difficulty of providing sufficient trained management for the growing number of Royal Ordnance factories which are now coming into production is one of increasing urgency and importance. In order to economise in this direction, my Noble Friend decided to entrust the management of the Royal Ordnance factory in question to Messrs. Beardmore, who have been for some time engaged in production of a similar character at their own works in the neigh bourhood. This step will afford us considerable and welcome relief, without putting any undue strain upon Messrs. Beardmore's organisation. Messrs. Beardmore will receive no financial remuneration for their services. The factory will remain the property of the Ministry of Supply. I understand that, in spite of a certain sense of uneasiness and even Opposition on the part of the operatives, the arrangements made both by the Ministry and the firm to maintain the rights and privileges of the workers have given general satisfaction, and the factory in question is now working with steadily increasing effort and output.

Mr. Adams:

In view of the highly un satisfactory nature of the reply, I beg to give notice that I shall raise the matter on the Adjournment.