§ Mr. FELLasked if the steel works in South Wales are in full work now; and, if not, how many furnaces have been blown out in the first four months of this year?
§ Mr. TENNANTAccording to the latest available satistics which relate to twenty-eight iron and steel works in South Wales and Monmouthshire (including nine steel sheet works), the members employed at the end of April last showed an increase of 6.2 per cent. on the corresponding figures for April, 1910. Compared with four months ago the figures show a decrease of 1½ per cent.
§ Mr. FELLasked what amount of steel was imported into this country from abroad during the first four months of the present year compared with the same period in each of the preceding two years?
§ Mr. TENNANTThe total quantity of steel imported into the United Kingdom in the form of ingots, blooms, billets, slabs, sheet bars, and tin-plate bars in the first four months of the current year was 302,384 tons. The corresponding figures for the first four months of 1910 were 181,407 tons, and for the first four months of 1909 190,542 tons.
§ Mr. FELLMay I ask if any reason can be given for the great increase in the importation of this steel during the first four months of this year?
§ Mr. TENNANTI shall be glad if the hon. Member will give me notice of that question.