§ Mr. CHARLES BATHURSTasked the Secretary of State for War whether cordite is manufactured otherwise than with acetone in any and, if so, what other countries; whether such process is easier and more expeditious than that in which acetone is employed; whether it has yet been proved that the cordite so produced is equally effective for all purposes as an explosive; and whether, when finally selecting between the alternative processes, he will bear in mind the potentialities of the manufacture of acetone either in the Forest of Dean or in the New Forest as a means of providing this country with a new and important woodland industry employing additional British labour both in the factory and in the forest?
§ Mr. HALDANESo far as is known in my Department, no country is manufacturing cordite otherwise than with acetone. Whether any other process is easier and more expeditious is not known, and could not be ascertained without extended trials, nor has it been proved on any large scale of manufacture that cordite so produced would be equally effective as an explosive. In answer to the last part of the question, it is not proposed to adopt any alternative process as long as acetone is available, and the sources of possible supply to which the hon. Member refers are being borne in mind.