§ 25. Mr. RHYS DAVIESasked the Under-Secretary of State for Air what proportion of the silk parachutes now in use in the Royal Air Force are of British silk or British manufacture; when the last contract for parachutes was placed; and whether such contract was for parachutes of British or foreign silk or manufacture?
§ The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for AIR (Sir Philip Sassoon)It is not possible without undue expenditure of time and labour to give a precise answer 348 to the first part of the question, but of the parachutes purchased before the 7th of this month—when the last contract was placed—approximately 76 per cent. were manufactured in this country and the silk used for all of them was of Japanese origin, as, until this year, a suitable British silk has not been available. The contract placed on the 7thi of this month was for parachutes of British manufacture and for about 77 per cent. of these British silk is being used; supplies of suitable British silk were not available for the remaining 23 per cent. and owing to the parachutes being urgently required, Japanese silk which was available in this country us being used.
§ Mr. DAVIESWill the right hon. Gentleman convey that information to the President of the Board of Trade?
§ Mr. KIRKWOODIs it not the case that the reason they selected Japanese as against British silk is that Japanese silk is cheaper than British silk, because of the sweated labour in Japan?
§ Sir P. SASSOONNo, nothing of the sort.
§ Mr. KIRKWOODThanks very much.