HL Deb 27 June 1950 vol 167 c1126WA
LORD BARNBY

asked His Majesty's Government if they will state what is the present annual rate of production in the United Kingdom of staple fibre: (a) Viscose, (b) Nylon, and what is the proportion of same presently being exported, and do they not think the time has now arrived for retention at home of larger weights for further manufacture and export with additional labour conent.

LORD LUCAS OF CHILWORTH

In the first four months of this year, production of rayon staple lime (including, besides viscose rayon, a small proportion of acetate rayon) was at the rate of about 165 million lbs. a year; experts were about 13 per cent. of production. Three quarters of the exports go to hard currency, mainly dollar, countries. Total supplies to the home market are now at a much higher rate.ban last year and are increasing, and the Government consider that a reasonable division has been made between home and export sales. Nylon staple fibre is still in the commercial development stage and output is small. No statistics ere yet available.