German engineering

Francis Maude's reference to a "jerry can" has caused embarrassment to the coalition, and has equally caused some confusion in the public mind.  So just what is a jerry can?  It's a metal container designed in Germany (hence the name) in the last War and can hold 20 litres of liquid.  It has a snap-shut cap and was indeed intended and used back then for carrying fuel.  It is however illegal to use it for that purpose in this country today (at least full up) as the maximum you are allowed to carry in one container is 10 litres.  And the maximum amount you are allowed to store at home in total is 30 litres - in fact you can't store it at home, it must be in a garage or other outbuilding or otherwise at least 6 metres from your house.  Maude's use of the name also carries with it certain overtones of class - to the extent that jerry cans are still around today, they tend to be used by the huntin' shootin' and fishin' fraternity.  The rest of us are more likely to use the plastic 5-litre jobbies.