§ Mr. Biffenasked the Minister of State for Defence what is the estimated output of RDX high explosive derived from Royal Ordnance factories and other United Kingdom sources ; and what has been the volume and value of export sales of this material over the past five years.
§ Mr. Ian GilmourThe Royal Ordnance factory output of RDX mixtures was rather less than 2,000 short tons in 1970–71. There is no other United Kingdom source. The volume and value of bulk export sales were negligible in 1966–67, 1967–68 and 1968–69. The figures—excluding RDX mixtures incorporated in exports of ammunition—for the last two years are set out below.
Financial Year Volume in Short Tons value £ 1969–70 208 200,000 1970–71 110 130,000