asked the Minister of Labour how many people are engaged in the production of armaments and in the feeding, clothing and housing of the armed forces.

It is not possible to give information in the precise form in which the hon. Member asks for it, but it has been estimated that there are over a million civilians employed by or on behalf of the armed forces.

Can the Minister give the rough figures for, say, 1938?

Not without notice.

Would the right hon. and learned Gentleman agree that it was hoped that by this time he would have had quite a large transference of people into the re-armament industries, and how does he think that those hopes are being realised by the transference we have had to date?

I do not think I can answer that query on this Question, but I shall be glad to deal with it if it is on the Paper.