HC Deb 28 February 1951 vol 484 c2068
7. Mr. Dodds-Parker

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will arrange to send out to East Africa demonstration units of road and railway vehicles for the cold storage carriage of foodstuffs, using the latest equipment, including eutectic tanks.

Mr. J. Griffiths

This would be a matter for the transport authority in East Africa. Their view is, I understand, that an experiment on the lines suggested, at the expense of public funds, is not considered justifiable at the present time.

Mr. Dodds-Parker

Is it not a fact that refrigerating activities in Kenya are already nationalised, and would it not be as well to try to get them to instal up-to-date equipment?

Mr. Walter Fletcher

Should not the penultimate word of this Question be "eupeptic"? If that is the case, would the right hon. Gentleman have one put into the Library so that hon. Members who are suffering from indigestion can study it?

Mr. Griffiths

I understand that the right word is "eutectic." These tanks are containers which are filled with dioxide ice—"dry ice"—and when placed within a closed vehicle extract heat from the atmosphere within and so lower the temperature.

Forward to