§ 39 Mr. JOHN BECKETTasked the Minister of Agriculture (1) what fertilisers are connected with fixated nitrogen and the agricultural value of these products;
(2) the prices at which fertilisers connected with fixated nitrogen are sold; and what factories are producing them;
(3) the monthly output of factories supplying fertilisers connected with fixated nitrogen and whether the Government has any interest or control in any of these factories?
Mr. WOODI propose to answer these questions together. The better-known fertilisers derived from atmospheric nitrogen are synthetic sulphate of ammonia, cyanamide and nitrate of lime. All of these are of recognised value for agricultural purposes. The only plant turning out synthetic nitrogen products on a commercial scale, so far as I knew, is that of "Synthetic Ammonia and Nitrates, Ltd.," at Billingham-on-Tees, the output of which, I understand, is in the neighbourhood of 120 tons a day. The Government has no interest in, or control of, the production of fertilisers by this company. Neutral sulphate of ammonia (21.1 per cent. nitrogen), which is, I understand, the quality produced by this factory, is being sold at present in 4-ton lots delivered to the farmer's station at 14 guineas per ton.
§ Mr. J. JONESAre they all running to-morrow?
§ Mr. BECKETTCan the right hon. Gentleman give the House any idea of the amount of sulphate of ammonia produced from other sources?
Mr. WOODI will do my best to give the hon. Member the information, if he puts another question down.
§ Mr. MONTAGUEIs it not the case that the greater part of these products go abroad and are not used in this country at all?