asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he is aware that there is a serious shortage of fish barrels in this country, and that the fish merchants are unable to procure same; and if he will state if any timber merchants have made applications to his Department for shipping space for the importation of barrel staves.

I am aware that there is a general shortage of fish barrels. I have not received any applications for shipping space for staves for fish barrels. Shipping space is now controlled only in the case of imports on Irish ships operating on Iberian routes. There appears little prospect of fish barrels becoming available from outside sources in the early future.