§ 76. Mr. Spenceasked the President of the Board of Trade the output of milk bottles for the years 1945 and 1946, respectively, and the estimated output for the year 1947.
§ Mr. BelcherOutput of milk bottles during 1945 and 1946 was 157½ million and 183½ million, respectively. The target output for 1947 is 230 million, but despite the efforts of the bottle manufacturers, for which I am very grateful, the direct and indirect results of the fuel position make it unlikely that this target will be fully achieved.
§ Mr. SpenceWill the hon. Gentleman bring to the attention of the Minister of Food the grave position which might arise because of the shortage of bottles? Will he try to prevent wastage?
§ Mr. UsborneCan my hon. Friend say how these figures compare with the figures for immediately before the war?
§ Mr. BelcherI should have to have notice of that question.
§ Sir Frank SandersonDoes the hon. Gentleman not agree that the figures he has just given clearly demonstrate that if reasonable care were taken of bottles the number required would be considerably less, and production could be reduced rather than increased?
§ Mr. Godfrey NicholsonCan the hon. Gentleman do something to stop the innocent, but expensive, juvenile sport of dropping bottles over the edges of areas?
§ Mr. Peter FreemanIn order to obtain the extra containers and to prevent the danger of injury by broken bottles, will my hon. Friend consider the wider provision of cardboard cartons?
§ Mr. BelcherThere is as great a shortage of cardboard as there is of glass.