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Paint Supplies

Volume 411: debated on Thursday 31 May 1945

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asked the Minister of Supply why, during the period of restriction of the manufacture of paint, supplies of materials of such magnitude have been supplied to Messrs. Pinchin, Johnson and Company and to the Co-operative Wholesale Society, that both concerns have reported a record turnover during the past year.

During the year 1944 the production of war equipment was at its peak and supplies of the specialised paints needed for protective coatings reached record figures. In addition, there was an increased release of controlled materials (which was proportionate to each firm's pre-war consumption) for the manufacture of paints for ordinary civilian requirements, while some kinds of distempers could be made from uncontrolled materials. In consequence paint manufacturers who have specialised in paints suitable for war purposes will in many cases have readied record turnover figures. In addition to executing Government orders for paint, during the past year Messrs. Pinchin, Johnson and Company supplied large quantities of a pressure plastic (waterproofing compound) of their own proprietary formulation which was used to protect the mechanical parts of tanks and amphibious vehicles during landing operations.I am informed that the paint turnover of the Co-operative Wholesale Society in 1944, though larger than in the previous year, was substantially less than in pre-war years.