HC Deb 19 January 1944 vol 396 c176
61. Mr. E. P. Smith

asked the Minister of Supply what steps are being taken to utilise the nitrogen stored in high explosives and ammonium nitrate, which are likely to become surplus after the war; and whether research is being carried out in this country on the same lines as in Canada and the U.S.A., with a view to the full utilisation of these valuable materials.

The Joint Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Supply (Mr. Sandys)

Plans are being made for utilising surplus stocks of explosives and for recovering some of their more valuable constituent products. In this connection certain necessary experimental work is in hand.

Mr. Smith

Can we be assured that the salvage of war material after the war will be undertaken in a full and economic manner?

Mr. Sandys

My hon. Friend will realise that this is not a new problem. Great quantities of explosives were dealt with after the last war. We have full records of what was done then. In addition we are carrying on certain further experimental work to bring our methods up to date.