§ 3. Mr. HANNONasked the President of Board of Trade whether he has given consideration to the figures published in the Board of Trade Journal of 29th March, showing the production of pig-iron in the United Kingdom and certain foreign countries; whether the low average output per furnace in blast in the United Kingdom, as compared with France, Belgium and Germany, is due to higher cost of production; and if he contemplates any action which may improve the outlook of the iron and steel trade in this country?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERI understand that the lower average output per furnace in blast in the United Kingdom is due to the fact that the furnaces now working here are, on the average, smaller than those working on the Continent.
§ Mr. W. THORNEDoes that mean that the low iron ore used in this country makes all the difference?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERI think there are smaller furnaces in this country because we turn out a number of grades of pig iron to meet a number of orders of different kinds. I think that really accounts for the difference between the comparatively small furnaces here and the larger furnaces abroad.
§ Mr. THORNEIs it not a fact that if you want to get the proper position you have to find out the class of coal, the class of coke, the class of iron ore and the class of limestone?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERI am not sure that that is necessary in order to find out the position in different countries. I do not think it would be necessary.
§ Mr. KIRKWOODAre we to believe that the men working in the blast furnaces in France, Belgium and Germany are superior workmen to those in this country?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERNo, there would be no ground for any such suggestion or reflection.