§ MR. BRIGHT (Oldham)To ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether the rule that all cloth goods supplied to the Admiralty must be dyed with vegetable indigo is still in force; and, if so, whether the attention of the Admiralty has been called to the fact that the chemically produced indigo is identical in composition with the vegetable product, cheaper to dye, enters more intimately into the structure of the yarn or cloth, and is equally permanent.
§ MR. JOWETT (Bradford, W.)To ask the Secretary to the Admiralty if he will explain why the employment of synthetic indigo is still prohibited for Navy contracts, seeing that several other Departments of State, when inviting tenders for the same class of material, leave the employment of either plant or synthetic indigo optional; and in view of the expert evidence and practical experience, extending over several years, showing that synthetic indigo is equal to plant indigo as regards application and dyeing, and in view of the fact that synthetic indigo is decidedly cheaper than plant indigo of equal strength, will he consider the advisability of permitting its use in Navy contracts.
§ only of the area under the Council for purposes of Elementary Education:—
§ (Answered by Mr. Edmund Robertson.) It has been decided to carry out trials of serge dyed with the synthetic indigo in order to ascertain its suitability for the requirements of the Naval Service.