§ Sir S. Holmesasked the Minister of Food to state the countries to which tinplate has been exported for the purpose of obtaining imported canned food and the value in each case; whether such tinplate was paid for by the foreign canner; and why tinplate is exported when British canners are unable to fulfil export orders owing to the tinplate shortage.
§ Mr. WebbTinplate has been allocated during the last half of 1950 and the first half of 1951 for export to the following countries, specifically to pack food for import into the United Kingdom. The value of the tinplate is not known, as it is bought commercially by the canner or his agent.
- Argentina.
- Brazil.
- China.
- Denmark.
- French North Africa.
- Holland.
- Irish Republic.
- Israel.
- Yugoslavia.
- Norway.
- Paraguay.
- Poland:
- Spain.
- Uruguay.
- U.S.S.R.
The foodstuffs packed in this tinplate are of first importance in feeding the people of this country, and in some cases there are also obligations under bilateral agreements to be taken into account. The fact is that when tinplate is scarce we have to balance the various competing claims so as to obtain the greatest advantage from the supply available; and the arrangements outlined have been made with this aim.