HC Deb 10 May 1951 vol 487 cc2139-40
22. Mr. Vane

asked the President of the Board of Trade to what extent fibre made from wood is now being manufactured in or imported into this country as material to blend with wool for clothing.

Sir H. Shawcross

I assume the hon. Member is referring to rayon staple fibre. Production of this fibre has been affected in recent months by the shortage of sulphur and amounted to 37.3 million lb. in the first quarter of this year, compared with 42.2 million lb. in the corresponding period of last year. Imports in the first quarter amounted to 322,000 lb. this year, compared with 586,000 lb. in the first quarter of last year. This material is used either alone or in blends with natural fibres such as cotton and wool. In the first quarter of this year the wool industry consumed 7.6 million lb. of rayon staple fibre and waste, compared with 2.6 million lb. in the corresponding period of 1950; this represents 5 per cent. of all fibres consumed in the wool industry. No figures are available showing how much of these blended yarns is used for clothing, but the great bulk of them would be so used.

Mr. Vane

I thank the right hon. and learned Gentleman for that information, but I meant other fibres less well known than rayon made from wood. If I put down another Question, will the right hon. and learned Gentleman give me that information?

Sir H. Shawcross

I will do my best to answer any Question that the hon. Member puts down.

Mr. Grimond

Can the right hon. and learned Gentleman say whether the cloth made from the fibre made from wood is described as "woollen cloth?"

Sir H. Shawcross

No, Sir. I should want notice of that.

Mr. Osborne

Is the right hon. and learned Gentleman aware that there is no satisfactory substitute for wool in cloth? Is he aware that the price of wool yarn has dropped in the last few weeks from 32s. 6d. a lb. to 25s.——

Mr. Speaker

The price of wool yarn does not come into the Question at all.