§ Mr. Gallacherasked the Minister of Production what material licences have been given to the firm of British Celanese to 645W proceed with the construction of plant for the manufacture of synthetic rubber; whether this firm has produced specimens of synthetic rubber which justify large scale production; and whether any exchange of information has taken place between this firm and the United States of America and the Union of Socialist Soviet Republics, where large scale production of synthetic rubber is already being carried on, with a view to incorporating the best methods as ascertained in practice?
§ Mr. LytteltonThe firm has been given licences for such quantities of steel, iron and timber as are necessary for such work as can be undertaken at once. The firm, which has had considerable experience of chemical manufacture, is financing the project itself, and is also entirely responsible for the technical side of the work. The Synthetic Rubber Committee and my scientific advisers had not the information regarding the project that would have been necessary to enable them to advise me on its technical aspects and I do not know to what extent the firm has supplemented its technical knowledge with information obtained from other countries.