HC Deb 27 July 1960 vol 627 c163W
111. Mr. Dugdale

asked the Civil Lord of the Admiralty when it is intended to give instructions that kapok be no longer used in naval life-saving equipment, in view of the effect upon it of contact with oil-polluted water.

Mr. C. Ian Orr-Ewing

The standard life-saving equipment for naval personnel is the inflatable rubber life-belt. In the few instances where kapok lifejackets still need to be used we are following a current Ministry of Transport regulation that the individual pads of kapok should be encased in sealed P.V.C. bags to avoid contact with oil.