7. Mr. ALEXANDERalso asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that a safeguarding duty of 33⅓ per cent. has been imposed on imports of calcium molybdate into this country from America; whether such imports are in unfair competition with any manufacture of the article in this country; whether he is aware that such an imposition is penalising British steel manufacturers in this country, as the use of this material shows a distinct saving in steel-production costs as compared with the use of ferro-molybdenum; and if this duty was taken into account in the recent safeguarding inquiry into the cutlery industry?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERCalcium molybdate has been liable to duty, on importation under Part I of the Safeguarding of Industries Act, since the let October, 1921. I have received no complaints that imports of this material compete unfairly with any manufacture in this country. I am informed that Molybdenum steel is not used by the cutlery industry, and the existence of the duty has consequently no bearing whatever on the questions considered in the cutlery inquiry.
Mr. ALEXANDERIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that in regard to other steels manufactured in Sheffield this substance is being used in order to reduce costs of production, and having regard to the statement of his Department that the position of the steel industry gives cause for anxiety, will he revise a decision which prevents a reduction in costs of production?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERNo, Sir, I think it is vitally important, if a particular constituent part is essential to the production of highly finished steel, to have it produced in this country.