§ 61. Brigadier Medlicottasked the Minister of Food if he is aware of the continued difficulty caused to canners of soft fruit by the shortage of tinplate for canning; and if he will make arrangements for the allocation of tinplate for this purpose to be increased.
§ 39. General Sir George Jeffreysasked the Minister of Food whether, in view of the serious difficulties facing growers of soft fruit this season, he will now consider allowing a greater allocation of tinplate for canning; and whether he will equally consider the desirability of imposing additional restrictions on the importation of tinned fruit, particularly in cases where it has been canned in syrup derived from sugar exported from this country.
§ Mr. WebbI am afraid there is still not enough tinplate for me to increase supplies for canning, but the sugar I recently released from the reserve should enable more soft fruit to be canned than last year. I do not think it would help to impose additional restrictions on imports of tinned fruit. As it is, supplies are inadequate to meet the demand and further restriction of imports would certainly not increase the quantity of soft fruit canned in this country or be of any assistance to growers.
There is no evidence that imported tinned fruit (except, possibly, Malayan) contains syrup made from sugar exported from this country—and I am sure that housewives would not want me to stop importing tinned pineapple.
§ Major Tufton BeamishIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that considerable quantities of tinplate have been exported to the Soviet Union to enable them to send crabs to this country?
§ Mr. SpeakerThat has nothing to do with this Question.