HC Deb 26 June 1972 vol 839 cc237-8W
Mr. Donald Stewart

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he has given consideration to the construction of ships lifeboats in aluminium as a protection against destruction by fire; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Noble

Full-scale tests in fire conditions have proved glass reinforced plastic to be preferable to aluminium alloy in terms of resistance to fire. For this and for other reasons construction of ships' lifeboats is now almost exclusively carried out in glass-reinforced plastic.

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