§ 74. Brigadier Raynerasked the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a full statement about the present position with regard to the supply of tyres for commercial vehicles in this country; and whether he anticipates that the position is likely to improve in the near future.
§ Mr. BelcherIt is estimated that replacement tyres have been provided for commercial vehicles during the past 18 months at about twice the prewar rate, but in some sizes this has not been sufficient to overtake the large postwar demand. Shortages of fuel, carbon black and special tyre fabric have adversely affected tyre production in recent months. These difficulties have been overcome and production 27W in the next six months should show a steady increase with consequent benefit to commercial vehicles using the difficult sizes of tyres.