5. Miss WARDasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will make an inquiry to ascertain to what extent prices for scrap are controlled by agreement between firms who purchase tonnage for breaking up?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANAs the total amount of scrap derived from the demolition of obsolete tonnage represents only a small proportion of the total supplies of scrap I cannot usefully undertake the enquiry suggested.
Miss WARDCan my right hon. Friend inform the House as to the difference in price between the amount paid by Italian ship breakers and British firms who buy ships to break up? Is he aware that there is a very great discrepancy?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANIf my hon. Friend puts down a question on that point, I will gladly give her such information as I can collect.