§ Mr. W. Greenasked the Minister of Supply whether he will consider releasing a small quantity of natural or synthetic rubber for the manufacture of rubber bands, having regard to the exhaustion of old stocks and the wastage of time, labour and material in using string or thread as a substitute for rubber bands.
§ Mr. PeatYes, Sir. Small quantities of natural and synthetic rubber have already been released for the manufacture of rubber bands for essential industrial purposes. In view of the critical supply situation natural rubber cannot be released for the manufacture of bands for ordinary purposes, but the Rubber Control will issue a small quantity of synthetic rubber for these purposes.