§ 23. Mr. Nabarroasked the Minister of Supply whether he will make a statement on availability of tinplate during the remainder of 1953; whether adequate supplies can be made available for all export and home demands; and whether the allocation system can shortly be terminated.
§ Mr. SandysThere is sufficient capacity to produce about 975,000 tons of tinplate this year, and the demands will probably not exceed that total. However, within this global figure there is still a shortage of tinplate of prime quality. For this reason, the allocation of tinplate will have to continue for a while longer.
§ Mr. NabarroWould my right hon. Friend bear in mind the great importance of giving the horticultural processing industry, particularly the fruit canners, adequate notice that in this forthcoming fruit season he will be able to allot to them all the tinplate they require to cope with our home fruit crop, especially in view of the difficulties in the last few years?
§ Mr. SandysThe allocation of tinplate for food canning is the responsibility of the Minister of Food to whom my hon. Friend may wish to put down a Question.