§ 27. Mr. Charles Smithasked the Minister of Food whether he can now make available an allocation of tin to enable small tin containers to be used by the biscuit industry in view of the fact that the tobacco industry has been freed from restrictions on tin plate usage.
§ Mr. StracheyI am afraid we have not enough tinplate to allow the use of small tins for biscuits. I am advised by my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade that the tobacco industry has not been freed from restrictions on the use of tinplate.
§ Mr. SmithIs it not a fact that the tobacco industry is now able to use tin-plate more freely, and will not the Minister seek to ensure priority in this matter for a food industry rather than for a non-food industry, especially when that food industry has export possibilities?
§ Mr. StracheyMy hon. Friend can rely on me to press for raw materials for the food industries.