§ Mr. Sharpasked the President of the Board of Trade what are the factors contributing to the shortage of methanol; and when, and to what extent, increased supplies will be available for the manufacture of formaldehyde, urgently required by the plastics industry.
§ Mr. H. WilsonThe shortage of methanol is due mainly to rapidly increasing demand overtaking existing manufacturing capacity, but there has been some loss of production during the winter months due to difficulties with power supply. Additional supplies of methanol for the manufacture of formaldehyde can, however, be expected in the near future as the result of efforts on the part of the producers to secure maximum output from their plants.