§ The following question stood upon the Order Paper in the name ofMr. NUNN:
§ 41. To ask the Secretary for Mines whether he has had an opportunity to consider the memorial addressed to him by the West Cumberland Association drawing his attention to the depressed condition of the West Coast iron ore industry; and' whether he can give any assurance that steps will be taken to assist the revival of that industry..
§ Mr. NUNNMay I say that there are corrections to make to this question as it appears on the paper? The question was originally put to the Prime Minister, and put in that way it would read correctly, but as it has been transferred to the Secretary for Mines it contains a misstatement of fact. The words addressed to him should be addressed to the Prime Minister, no memorial having been addressed to my hon. Friend the Secretary for Mines.
§ The SECRETARY for MINES (Mr. Ernest Brown)Nevertheless I have read the memorial. The answer to the first part of the question is "Yes." With regard to the second part, I am asking the iron ore producers to meet me again, and I shall be glad if my hon. Friend will be present. As he will be aware, negotiations took place East year, at the instance of my Department, between the ore producers and the railway companies. I have on more than one occasion asked the ore producers to let me know the position that has been reached, but I am still without any detailed information; and for that reason I am inviting them to meet me again. In the meantime, as the hon. Member is no doubt aware, output has increased, both in Cumberland and in the country as a whole.
§ Mr. NUNNIs my hon. Friend speaking from the point of view of the Government or from the point of view of his Department? What the memorialists in Cumberland wished to discover was the point of view of the Government, and, as my hon. Friend is aware, the iron ore supplies are held up by what appears to be the opposition of the steel interests. Will the hon. Gentleman take that into consideration?
§ Mr. BROWNMy hon. Friend knows that that is so. I have always put the point of view of the Government and received representations on behalf of the Government.
§ Mr. NORTHWill the hon. Gentleman remember the extreme importance of this industry to this country?
§ Mr. BROWNI have tried on a number of occasions in the last 18 months to have that borne in mind and by those on the spot, who ought to have it in mind.