HC Deb 09 April 1935 vol 300 cc952-3
5. Mr. GRAHAM WHITE

asked the President of the Board of Trade what proportion of the total exports from this country of steel products was manufactured from foreign imported steel in the years 1932, 1933 and 1934?

Mr. RUNCIMAN

I regret that this information is not available.

2. Mr. NUNN

asked the President of the Board of Trade the amount of haematite iron ore imported into this country in each of the last three years, showing separately the amount imported into the port of Workington?

Mr. RUNCIMAN

I regret that the information asked for in the first part of the question is not available, as imports of haematite iron ore are not separately recorded. Imports of iron ore into the port of Workington, including Harrington, amounted to 99,943 tons in 1932 and 143,090 tons in 1933. I understand that the bulk of these imports consisted of haematite iron ore. The corresponding figure for 1934 is not yet available.

Mr. KIRKWOOD

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether it is possible to prohibit the import of haematite iron ore into this country?

Mr. RUNCIMAN

No, Sir, I do not think that would be a practical proposition.

6 and 7. Mr. BANFIELD(for Mr. MAINWARING)

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) whether he can give any information about the special committee set up by the French Government to consider the increased duties imposed upon iron and steel products by His Majesty's Government; and whether the French Government has made any representations in the matter;

(2) whether he has received any report concerning the demand made by Belgian steel manufacturers upon their Government requesting that strong protests be entered against the increased British duties, and concerning the proposed list of British products to be excluded from Belgium as a retaliatory measure?

Mr. RUNCIMAN

Representations have been made expressing the concern of the French and Belgian Governments at the recent increase in the duties on certain iron and steel products, but I have no information on the other matters referred to.

15. Mr. NUNN

asked the Secretary for Mines the amount of haematite iron ore used in this country during each of the last three years?

The SECRETARY for MINES (Mr. Ernest Brown)

It is estimated that the quantity of iron ore used in this country in the manufacture of haematite pigiron in 1932 was 1,377,000 tons, in 1933, 1,901,000 tons and in 1934, 2,600,000 tons.