§ Mr. Edward Daviesasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware of the continuing shortage of gas mantles in North Staffordshire; and what steps he will take to improve the position.
§ Sir S. CrippsThere is still a scarcity of gas mantles generally and considerable arrears of demand remain to be overtaken, but the number of workers in the industry has increased in recent months; output in the last quarter of 1946 was 20 per cent. higher than in the previous quarter and 30 per cent. higher than in the first quarter of that year. United Kingdom production will be supplemented in two months' time by supplies from abroad. If my hon. Friend will let me have details of specific cases where orders for gas mantles have been outstanding for a long time, I will gladly have them looked into.