asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is now in a position to make a statement regarding his approach to the Minister of Supply for some part of the Magnesium Electron Works, Hapton, Lancashire, being released for new industrial use.

The Magnesium Electron Works is a special purpose factory for the production of materials of strategic importance the capacity from which must be available at comparatively short notice. It is equipped with plant which could not be moved without, to a very large degree, destroying it. The buildings are not in any case suitable for ordinary industrial use although part of the premises are at present being used by the Ministry of Supply for storage for which replacement space would be very difficult to find. For these reasons my right hon. Friend the Minister of Supply is unable to release the premises at present. The question is however being kept under review.

Is the Minister aware that the buildings which are used for storing purposes contain stores which are in short supply at the moment and which should be sold, thereby making the buildings available?

I am afraid that I am not aware of that, because I am not responsible for the storage.