§ Mr. Dodds-Parkerasked the Minister of Food whether he is aware that, with supplies of tinplate strictly limited, it is essential that canners in the Dominions called upon to supply foodstuffs for the United Kingdom, know in good time' whether a particular product will be admitted to the United Kingdom; that, failing such indication, the tinplate is allocated for other purposes, with the result that a last-minute decision by his Department to purchase is likely to find the packers' shelves bare; and what steps he is taking to ensure that adequate notice is given.
§ Mr. StracheyOur programme of imports of canned foods is normally planned well in advance. Generally, therefore, the difficulty to which the hon. Member refers does not arise. Where, however, changes in circumstances permit the introduction of new lines of imports into the programme, it is not always possible to give advance notice of such changes.