§ 19. Mr. Patrick Maitlandasked the President of the Board of Trade what amounts of tinplate he estimates will be exported during the next 12 months; and to what countries.
§ Mr. P. ThorneycroftThe amount of tinplate to be exported during 1952 is expected to be about 250,000 tons. Over two-thirds of this will go to Commonwealth countries and to the Colonies, but some exports will be to countries with which we have bilateral trade agreements—Denmark, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Italy, Portugal, France, Spain, Finland and Argentina—under which we get supplies of scarce and essential raw materials. Limited supplies will be sent to a number of other countries, largely to be used for packing essential food to be imported into this country.
§ Mr. MaitlandWill my right hon. Friend bear in mind the clamour among fruit and tomato growers in this country for abundant tinplate for canning food? Will he remember that, in particular, Dutch-dumped food has had a most deleterious effect upon the growing industry of the Clyde Valley?
§ Mr. G. R. StraussWill there be any significant change either in the total amounts or in the direction of these exports in 1952 as compared with 1951?
§ Mr. ThorneycroftThe bulk of these exports will continue to go, as, I understand, they have done in the past, to the Commonwealth and to the Colonies. For the rest, of necessity we have to use tinplate to some extent in these bilateral negotiations, of which the right hon. Gentleman will be aware.
§ Mr. StraussMay I take it that the answer, therefore, is no?
§ Mr. Thorneycroft indicated assent.
§ Major H. Legge-BourkeDo those other countries, which my right hon. Friend did not name in his answer, include China, to whom we have been exporting tinplate? Is it now proposed to cease these exports to enable our own home growers to can their fruit?
§ Mr. ThorneycroftPerhaps my hon. and gallant Friend will put that question down.