§ Mr. Skeetasked the Secretary of State for Industry what proportion of waste glass is used in glass fibre manufacture, as a reflective medium in surface coatings, in abrasives, in road surfacing and in construction materials.
§ Mr. MeacherI regret that this information is not available and could not be obtained without disproportionate effort.
§ Mr. Skeetasked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will introduce legislation to enable glass manufacturers to adopt a common specification which would make it feasible to use more cullet in glass manufacture.
§ Mr. MeacherIf the glass industry is able to develop a standard composition approved by the British Standards Institution there is no reason why it should 69W not be generally adopted, without the need for legislation.
§ Mr. Skeetasked the Secretary of State for Industry, of the basic materials used in the production of glass derived from abroad, if he will specify the chemicals involved, the quantities used by United Kingdom manufacturers and the countries from which they are derived.
§ Mr. MeacherThe basic items are indigenous. It is esimated that less than 2 per cent. of the remaining materials are imported—principally alumina, magnesia, boric oxide and silverware according to the type of glass—coming primarily from Canada, Australia, Norway, Finland and the United States of America.