§ 102. Mr. Skeffington-Lodgeasked the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement about the continuing shortage of bottles for soft drinks and imported wines.
§ Mr. MarquandSupplies of all glass bottles are still insufficient to meet demand although output generally is well above the prewar level, and is increasing. Priority is given to the production of bottles: for milk, welfare foods and medicines. The output of soft drink bottles so far this year had been running at a higher rate than in 1938. Separate output figures are not available for wine bottles, but home production is being supplemented by imports which are being licensed freely. We are doing all we can to help the industry to increase production. Meanwhile the public can assist by returning their empty bottles.