§ 33. Mr. LEWIS JONESasked the President of the Board of Trade the proportion which the steel imports of all forms for October, 1931, bear to the total production of steel in the United Kingdom during the same month?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the BOARD of TRADE (Mr. Hore-Belisha)The imports into the United Kingdom registered furing the month of october included, under the general description of "Iron and Steel and Manufacture therof," 197,862 tons of 1072 goods specified as of steel, and 36,646 tons of goods in the case of which goods of iron were not stated separately from those of steel. According to information compiled and published by the National Federation of Iron and Steel Manufacturers, the output in the United Kingdom of steel ingots and castings amounted during October, 1931, to 457,400 tons. The proportion borne to this total by the imports specified as of steel was somewhat over 43 per cent., and the further goods of iron or steel, the steel goods not being specified as such, amounted to 8 per cent. Imports of machinery, vehicles, etc., made partly of steel are not included in these aggregates.
§ Mr. JONESIs the hon. Gentleman aware that, if these figures are brought down to an ingot basis, the percentage is 61 and not 43, and is not that figure different from the figure of 5 per cent.which the President of the Board of Trade gave recently?
§ Mr. HORE-BELISHAMy hon. Friend has asked me for the accurate information, and be has been given it. Now he is giving me some other information.
§ Mr. JONESWill the hon. Gentleman be good enough to bring those imports down to an ingot basis, and then work out his percentage? It will be 61.
§ Mr. HORE-BELISHAIf the hon. Member will put on the Paper a question to that effect, I will get the answer required.
§ Major BEAUMONT THOMASThis is a very important matter. Is it not essential that the hon. Gentleman should inform himself of the facts, and should it be necessary for us to supply him with the facts?