33. Mrs. Whiteasked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he is aware that there is severe unemployment in the rayon industry; that for some articles it is possible to substitute rayon or rayon mixture for cotton, thus effecting a considerable saving in dollars; that the substitution of rayon staple for cotton would not have an adverse effect on the spinning and weaving sections of the textile industry: and if, in the light of these considerations, he will take immediate steps to see that specifications for textile goods ordered by his Department are reviewed with the intention of substituting rayon wherever possible.
§ The First Lord of the Admiralty (Mr. J. P. L. Thomas)I would refer the hon. Member to the reply made to her Question on Monday last, by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Supply. My Department has the matter under review in the same way.
Mrs. WhiteWould the right hon. Gentleman consider ordering sufficient quantities of the articles in question to obtain a large-scale user-trial by his Department?
§ Mr. ThomasWe are going very thoroughly and urgently into the matter at the present time, and I will bear in mind the Question of the hon. Lady.