§ 107. Mr. Osborneasked the Minister of Supply what were the reasons for his Department's estimate of February, 1951, that tinplate supplies for the current year were expected to be 950,000 tons, whereas now it is anticipated that there will be little more than 750,000 tons; and when he expects the production of substantially over one million tons per annum, promised for 1953, will now be achieved.
§ Mr. SandysI understand that the estimate was based on the expectation that the new tinplate plant at Trostre would be completed before the end of 1951. It is unlikely to be completed before the second half of this year. No firm estimate of tinplate production for 1952 can be given, nor is it possible to say when a total production of one million 91W tons a year will be reached. This depends not only on the completion of the Trostre plant, but also on the extent to which raw materials can be made available.