HC Deb 12 December 1946 vol 431 cc1327-8
43. Mr. Hubbard

asked the President of the Board of Trade which industries receive an allocation of linseed oil; what tonnage each industry receives; and how this compares with their prewar usage.

Sir S. Cripps

With regard to the first two parts of his Question, I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food to the hon. and gallant Member for Lancaster (Brigadier Maclean) on 27th November last. As regards the last part of the Question, the Census of Production Reports for 1935 show that the paint, varnish and white lead group of indus- tries used in that year 47,900 tons of linseed oil and the linoleum and leather-cloth industries, 33,900 tons. The printing ink industry used 3,055 tons of vegetable oils of all kinds.

Mr. Erroll

The right hon. and learned Gentleman read out his reply with such speed that I failed to detect in it any reference to supplies of linseed oil to the electrical installation industry, which requires a quite small tonnage which is absolutely vital for reconstruction.

Sir S. Cripps

I am aware of that. I gave only the figures for the main users in tonnage.

Mr. Erroll

Are not the smaller users equally important?

Sir S. Cripps

Certainly.

Mr. De La Bère

On a point of Order, Mr. Speaker. May I ask the right hon. Gentleman not to read his replies quite so quickly?