HC Deb 03 April 1939 vol 345 cc2469-71W
Sir R. Glyn

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he is aware that investigation has proved that flax fibres, as a reinforcement of plastics for the manufacture of aircraft struts and other parts, has been highly satisfactory in Germany, since the tensile strength of 31,500 lbs.

imported into the U.S.S.R. are 100 per cent ad valorem minimum and 20 roubles per kilog maximum. Minimum rates are applied to goods entering the Soviet Union in accordance with the import plans of the Soviet Government and these are practically the whole of the imports.

Maximum rates are applied to goods not included in the import plans, and also to goods forwarded as parcels, without an import licence, to State institutions, organisations and private persons. There are no quota restrictions on importation of United Kingdom fish into the Soviet Union.

Mr. W. R. Duckworth

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether in view of the fact that the Government of Soviet Russia exports fish to the value of over £1,000,000 sterling annually to the United Kingdom, he will endeavour to arrange for the preferential treatment of British fish, including salted herring, imported into Russia?

Mr. Cross

A large proportion of the imports into this country of fish consigned from the Soviet Union consists of salmon from Japanese canneries situated in Soviet territory. The importance of this factor can be gauged from the following figures:

per square inch is about 10,000 lbs. more than duralumin and steel; whether he will consider the benefits that might accrue by an increased use of this material in speeding up aircraft production; and whether it is proposed to adopt for use in this country the hydraulic moulding process for the manufacture of material for this purpose as used by the firm of Siemelkamp of Krefeld?

Sir K. Wood

I am aware that flax and other fibres are being used in Germany to reinforce plastics in the manufacture of certain aircraft parts, but definite information as to the results obtained is not available. I cannot, however, accept my hon. and gallant Friend's statement as to the relative tensile strength of this material compared with that of duralumin and steel. Research and experiments in the use of this material for aircraft production are being encouraged by my Department, and experimental components are now being made by the hydraulic moulding process.