§ 5. Sir WILLIAM DAVISONasked the President of the Board of Trade if he can inform the House of the various items of cost in the production of a ton of steel in. Great Britain as compared with similar items in Holland, Belgium, Germany and the United States of America?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERI regret that the information is not available.
§ Sir W. DAVISONIs it not possible for the right hon. Gentleman, without great expense, to get this information, seeing how very important it is for us to know why tenders from the Continent are again and again so much under the figures in this country?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERI am afraid that is impossible. As a matter of fact, my Department tried to get this information, but it was found absolutely impossible to get anything reliable.
§ Mr. HARDIEIs it not a fact that a year ago, when the Labour Government were in office, figures were given by the President of the Board of Trade showing the price of a ton of German steel and 217 iron on rail, and comparing the same conditions in the country?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERThat would be a perfectly simple figure to give, but the figure my hon. Friend asks for is the comparative cost of the various component items which go to make up that figure, and that is a very different thing, which I am afraid it is impossible to get.
§ Mr. GRIFFITHSWhen the right hon. Gentleman is making inquiries, will he find out the effect of the eight hours' day as it is established in the steel trade of this country as compared with the eight hours day on the Continent?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERThat is a very different question, and it raises certain implications as to disputed facts. If the hon. Gentleman requires further information, he had better put a question down on the Paper.
§ 50. Miss WILKINSONasked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the changes in organisation of the heavy iron and steel industries caused by the War and the introduction of labour-saving devices, he will cause an expert inquiry to be made of the number of men likely to be permanently redundant in areas mainly dependent upon such industries, and of the possibility of their being trained for other occupations?
§ The PRIME MINISTER (Mr. Baldwin)Such an inquiry at the present time would, I think, be so largely speculative that it would not be likely to arrive at conclusions of practical value.
§ Miss WILKINSONIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that in areas like Middlesbrough there are men who have been out of work for over four years, who have absolutely no hope and who are being turned out of insurance, and is not something as an alternative occupation necessary?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI am as well acquainted as the hon. Lady with the condition of trade. It is, I agree, deplorable, but we still hope that a change in the world trade situation will allow a revival in that and other trades, and there is no doubt that the power of steel consumption in the world when the in 218 dustry revives, will be enough to absorb all the steel that is made. I sympathise fully with the hon. Member's feeling.
§ Colonel GRETTONWill the Prime Minister take steps to find more employment in the iron and steel industry?
§ Mr. REMERIs the Prime Minister aware that there is a large importation of foreign steel into this country?