HC Deb 17 March 1959 vol 602 cc181-3
9. Mr. Moss

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works as representing the Lord President of the Council, what official contribution is made to the British Hat and Allied Felt-makers Research Association; and upon what basis this contribution is calculated.

Mr. H. Nicholls

An annual grant is made by the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research to this research association, graduated according to the industrial contributions received from member firms. For the year ending 31st March, 1958, a grant of £4,725 was paid on a contribution of £6,618.

Mr. Moss

Can the hon. Gentleman say whether this small research association is the only one in the country carrying out research intended to protect road users against head injuries? Does he consider its financial resources sufficient for that purpose?

Mr. Nicholls

As the hon. Member knows, the production of headgear which will protect people from the worst effects of road accidents is not the main reason for this particular research. Indeed, the crash helmets used by motor cyclists are the ones which comply with the British standard specification, not just this felt referred to by the hon. Member.

Mr. Moss

Is not it true that in Germany, in France and in the United States of America much greater resources are devoted to this purpose than in this country?

Mr. Nicholls

For the grants to this association, the ratio of contributions from the Government as against subscriptions from the associate members is higher than the average. Normally it is £4 for every £10 and in this case the grant is £6 for £10.

10. Mr. Moss

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works, as representing the Lord President of the Council, whether he will make a special grant to the British Hat and Allied Felt-makers Research Association, in view of its development of No. 11 anti-shock felt now used by a Warwickshire firm, the name of which has been supplied to him in the production of protective caps for motorists and other categories of road users.

Mr. H. Nicholls

This was recently explored by the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research and rejected on the grounds that the circumstances did not warrant such special treatment. If, however, industry wishes to increase its subscription to this work in the research association, these subscriptions will he matched by Government grant on the basis of £6 for every £10 in the normal way. It is also open to the council of the research association to allot such priority as it sees fit to such an item on its research programme.

Mr. Moss

Has the hen. Gentleman considered that this is an industry of small manufacturers who find it difficult to raise large sums of money and that the research association is in need of technical equipment and trained personnel?

Mr. Nicholls

Very likely for that reason the grant is £6 for every £10, compared with the average of £4 for £10.

11. Mr. Moss

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works, as representing the Lord President of the Council, to what extent the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research has co-operated with the British Hat and Allied Feltmakers Research Association in the production of an anti-shock felt to be incorporated into caps or hats for the better protection of motorists and other road users against head injuries; whether such a felt has now been produced; and what protection it can give.

Mr. H. Nicholls

The Road Research Laboratory of D.S.I.R. was consulted by a hat manufacturer and suggested that felt might be used in protective hats. The manufacturer and the British Hat and Allied Feltmakers Research Association, who are grant-aided by D.S.I.R., have cooperated with the Laboratory to select a quality, density and thickness of felt that would be most satisfactory for anti-shock protection. While no precise assessment can be made of the protection afforded by this felt, a protective cap or hat incorporating the felt would be of some value, especially in minor accidents. It must however be stressed that such felt hats are no substitute for the motor cyclist's crash helmet.

Mr. Moss

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that there is no intention of saying that the protective felt cap or hat is a substitute for a crash helmet, but that it is clear that it provides 60 per cent. protection against a 4,000 lb. impact? Can he say whether that has a scientific and medical basis?

Mr. Nicholls

Research has so far recorded that this felt certainly does offer some protection. There is no question that it is short of grant-in-aid support and thus prevented from making that result more widely known.