§ 5. Mr. HOUSTONasked the President of the Board of Trade if he will state the tonnage and value of steel plates, angles, etc., ordered in America by our Government Departments during the past two years; what quantity has already been brought into this country; whether it is intended to import the balance into this country; whether these steel plates and angles were intended principally for shipbuilding here; whether these plates and sections do not comply with Lloyd's requirements and are of unsuitable dimensions 870 for our shipbuilding requirements, entailing a considerable amount of cutting and waste; whether it would be more economical and advantageous to dispose of this steel in America and Canada; whether the Ministry of Munitions is circularising British consumers offering them these steel plates and angles now lying in America and Canada; what price this steel is being offered at; and whether this dumping of foreign steel is in accordance with the declared intention of the Government?
§ The DEPUTY-MINISTER of MUNITIONS (Mr. Kellaway)As the answer is long and detailed I will, with the hon. Member's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
The following is the reply referred to:
The total tonnage of steel plates and angles ordered in America by His Majesty's Government for shipbuilding purposes during the past two years amounts to 151,000 tons, at an average price of £16 5s. per ton f.o.b. American port, of which 48,000 tons have been cancelled since the Armistice; 79,000 tons have already been brought into this country. It is not possible to state whether any part of the balance will be imported into this country, as it will be disposed of in accordance with the policy of the Government in the best markets. These steel plates and angles were intended principally for shipbuilding here. They were made to the standard specification of the American Society for Testing Materials; Lloyd's Register of Shipping have agreed to accept this material for use in the construction of vessels building to their classification.
If an equivalent price, taking into account the cost of transport and handling, can be obtained in America, Canada or elsewhere, it might be more economical to dispose of this material in those countries. The Ministry of Munitions have circularised British consumers, offering this material for disposal. It is contrary to the public interest to quote prices that are being obtained for material which, for the most part, must be sold by private treaty or public tender, but it may be stated that the prices realised are commensurate with the market price of similar material produced in this country. This being the case, there is no question of dumping foreign steel in this market.