asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps he is taking to alleviate the acute shortage of soft-drinks bottles, especially for squash and cordials in view of the holiday season.

We are doing all we can to assist the bottle manufacturers to obtain the greatest possible output within the limits imposed by the available supplies of fuel and soda ash. The demand for bottles continues, however, to be greater than the supply, and the public can help by returning used bottles promptly. Many local authorities have assisted us greatly, as part of their- salvage activities, by returning empty bottles to the trade and broken glass to the manufacturers; I am very grateful to them for this work.

Is my right hon. and learned Friend satisfied that adequate publicity is being given to this urgent need for the return of empty bottles?

We have done our best, and I have no doubt that this Question will assist.