§ 54. Mr. A. BEVANasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will give the number of tons of scrap-iron imported into Germany from all countries during the first four months of 1933, as compared with the amount imported during the same period in 1932?
§ Dr. BURGINThe total quantity of scrap and old iron, other than hammer slag, rolling mill waste, grindings and foundry scrap, imported for consumption 2582 into Germany during the first four months of 1933 amounted to 176,732 tons, compared with 16,216 tons during the corresponding period of 1932.
§ Mr. BEVANWill the hon. Member ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs to inquire into the significance of that increase?
§ Dr. BURGINThe matter is not being overlooked at all. The whole of the importations are being considered and a good deal of information is already available.
§ Mr. BEVANMy supplementary question was whether the hon. Member would ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs to make inquiries into this extraordinary increase that has taken place, and whether it has any bearing on the obligations of Germany under the Treaty of Versailles?
§ Mr. LAWSONAs the hon. Gentleman says that he has some information, cannot he give us the reason for this increase?
§ Mr. H. WILLIAMSIs not scrap merely used as an alternative to pig-iron, and is not the amount of the importations solely dependent on the relative prices?