§ Mr. Garro Jonesasked the Minister of Supply whether he is aware that in March 1041W of this year investigations, at the instance of his Department, were carried out at the chemical research laboratories by the Department of Scientific Research into methods of reclamation of rubber, as a result of which a report was furnished to the Minister, indicating that a process, introduced by a firm not a member of the Rubber Reclaimers' Association, was superior to the existing alkali process operated by that association; why, in spite of this report, Government support was given to the extension of the old alkali system; and whether he can state the reasons for this decision?
§ Sir A. DuncanYes, Sir. The report found that it was quite possible to manufacture a satisfactory reclaim by a heat process such as that to which the hon. Member refers, but not that the result was superior to reclaim produced by the established alkali process. Certain extensions of the latter process had already been undertaken as a matter of urgency with Government support, and other extensions had been undertaken by various rubber manufacturers, mainly using a heat process, without Government assistance. If still further extensions of reclaim capacity should prove necessary, full consideration will be given to the process referred to.