§ 60. Mr. WALKERasked the Minister of Health whether, in view of the unemployment in the steel trades, he will cause to be revised the loan periods for steel pipes with a view to establishing an equality with iron pipes?
§ The MINISTER of HEALTH (Mr. Arthur Greenwood)This subject has been fully considered on several occasions. I am anxious to do what I can to help the steel trade, but the evidence available does not indicate that the life of steel pipes for the works of local authorities would generally be so long as that of cast-iron pipes, and the same loan periods would, therefore, not be justified. I am quite prepared to consider any further definite evidence.
§ Mr. ARTHUR MICHAEL SAMUELI understood the right hon. Gentleman to say that he was anxious to consider the position of the steel trade. Will he take into account the fact that 93,000,000 tons of iron and steel were imported from abroad last year?