asked the Minister of Supply and of Aircraft Production how many people are still employed in the aircraft industry; what is the volume of orders outstanding; and how these figures compare with those of a year ago.

The number of workers employed in the aircraft industry at the end of August, 1945, the latest available figure, was approximately 993,000, as compared with 1,700,000 at the end of August, 1944. As regards the second part of the Question, the volume of orders outstanding for all types of aircraft at 31st August, 1945, was approximately 10,300, as compared with 43,300 at the end of August, 1944.