§ Commander Nobleasked the President of the Board of Trade why the available home supply of saucers does not keep pace with the supply of cups.
§ Mr. H. WilsonIt was always customary before the war to produce more cups than saucers. During the war manufacturers were urged to train the saucers-makers left in the industry to make cups—the more essential article. Owing to the labour shortage the balance of production has not yet been restored.
264Wmain uses in the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Wycombe (Mr. Haire) on 6th May last. The allocations for the period November, 1947, to February, 1948, for these purposes are set out below, together with the percentages which these allocations bear to the allocations in the previous period and to the estimated consumption in 1939.
Saucers are short particularly on the home market as it is essential to see that sets for export are complete.
§ Commander Nobleasked the President of the Board of Trade what representations have been made to him by the Tourist and Holiday Board to increase the home supplies of crockery.
§ Mr. H. WilsonThe British Tourist and Holidays Board have drawn my attention to the difficulties of hotels and catering establishments in getting adequate supplies of crockery. These difficulties are a reflection of the general shortages of crockery and I am satisfied that the hotel and catering trades are getting at least their fair share of the supplies available.