13. Mr. Baker Whiteasked the Minister of Food what changes he proposes to make over the next six months in the allocation of tinplate for the home canning of fruit, vegetables, soups, jams and meat products; and what changes have been made since 1st September, 1950.
§ Mr. WebbI shall not be able to answer the first part of the Question until I know how much tinplate will be at my Department's disposal during the next six months. In reply to the second part of the Question, food canners as a whole are at present getting about 20 per cent. less tinplate than at the same time last year; but it is left to them to decide how to allocate it among the various products they are licensed to pack.
§ Major Legge-BourkeCan the Minister give an assurance that he will confer with the Minister of Agriculture to ensure that food growers are not asked to grow more food than is likely to be needed by the canners and the ordinary public?
§ Mr. WebbThat is only one of the many consultations we must have. We are very worried about tinplate. Many Departments are concerned. I shall certainly take into account the hon. and gallant Member's suggestion, along with the many other considerations which I have to examine.
§ Mr. DyeWill my right hon. Friend bear in mind the need for an early decision because of the work involved in the growing and processing of the fruit and vegetables?
§ Mr. WebbI am aware of the need for early decision, but we are limited all the time by considerations of supply.
§ Captain CrookshankWhen is the right hon. Gentleman likely to know what the allocation for the next six months will be?
Mr. Baker WhiteDoes the answer to my supplementary mean that the Minister anticipates a serious shortage of tinned goods in the coming year?
14. Mr. Baker Whiteasked the Minister of Food whether he is aware that, owing to the shortage of tinplate at British canning factories, and the presence in the shops of quantities of imported tinned peas canned in exported British tinplate, British pea growers are finding it impossible to dispose of their 5 crop to the canners; and what steps he proposes to take to remedy this unsatisfactory situation.
§ Mr. WebbDespite the general shortage of tinplate for canning, pea canning this year will be well up to last year's production, which itself was substantially heavier than in any post-war year. I think that any difficulties arise more from the fact that public demand for dried peas is limited than from the tinplate position. I do not think that the comparatively small quantities of canned peas which are imported affect the position substantially one way or the other.
Mr. Baker WhiteIs the Minister aware that one of the largest firms of canners of peas is now refusing to take up peas, for the very reason that they cannot get sufficient tinplate in which to put them, and that one firm has been compelled to use glass jars?
§ Mr. WebbI discussed this problem only last week with representatives of the canning industry, and they themselves are, on the whole, inclined to agree that we cannot escape from the obligation to send some tinplate to countries from which we get other food, and that we cannot dictate to them what use they make of it for sending food back to this country.
§ Mr. ShepherdWhat steps is the Minister taking to force the tinplate issue, in view of the fact that, although the plant in South Wales has come into operation, in two or three year's time we shall be back where we are now?