72. Mr. De la Béreasked the President of the Board of Trade whether in view of the complaints by retailers throughout the country that they are still unable to meet the public demand for gas mantles, he will consider temporarily supplementing the United Kingdom production with supplies from abroad.
§ The Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Trade (Mr. Belcher)Arrangements have already been made to import a quantity of mantles from Czechoslovakia and a few from Belgium. We are also getting some good supplies of ceramic rings for our own mantle manufacturers from various sources. Everything possible is being done to speed up deliveries, but the mantle makers in Czechoslovakia are also having their production difficulties.
§ Mr. BelcherYes, Sir. We are taking steps by importing ceramics from Germany and other places.