HC Deb 16 March 1959 vol 602 cc1-2W
17. Sir J. Lucas

asked the Minister of Supply whether he will now report on the experiments carried out by his Depart- ment for plastic wings and bonnets for Service vehicles.

Mr. W. J. Taylor

Experiments show that the use of a number of plastics would be technically acceptable provided that they are properly compounded and suitably reinforced. None of the major motor vehicle manufacturers has as yet adopted plastic wings and bonnets for their commercial vehicles. I am told that the reasons for this are largely economic. Since it is the policy to buy vehicles which are based as nearly as practicable on standard commercial products, plastic wings and bonnets are not yet in use in Service vehicles. Developments of plastic materials will continue to be studied.