§ 14. Mr. Fletcher-Cookeasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works, as representing the Lord President of the Council, to what extent research is being made into the use and development of silicates, oxides and nitrides from domestic sources; and what encouragement is being given to this research.
§ Mr. MolsonResearch into the development of new and extended uses for these substances is being actively pursued in a wide field by industry, research associations, Government research establishments and the universities. Both the 744 Department of Scientific and Industrial Research and the Ministry of Supply are encouraging and sponsoring research of this nature.
§ Mr. Fletcher-CookeCan the Parliamentary Secretary say to what extent we may hope in the near future to make ourselves less dependent on the import of foreign metal by the use of these domestic substances?
§ Mr. MolsonDevelopment on these lines has already begun. A number of the universities are carrying out research, and a number of industrial firms are engaged on small-scale production of these new products as a substitute for metals.