§ 58. Mr. HARDIEasked the President of the Board of Trade the number of tons of iron and steel imported and exported in finished and semi-finished state under agreement with the continental cartel; the prices fixed for the home products consumed at home; the prices for imported products; and the prices received for exported products?
§ Dr. BURGINI am informed by the British Iron and Steel Federation that for the first year of the agreement with the Continental Steel Cartel 454,000 tons of semi-finished and 421,000 tons of finished material were imported under the agreement, and 1,365,000 tons of finished and 19,000 tons of semi-finished material were exported. It is impossible to give details of prices, which vary with place and time, as well as with the quality, shape and size of each of a wide range of products. I am informed that the prices of imported iron and steel are somewhat below, but tend to approximate to the prices of British material in the home market, while export prices, which increased in 1935 as a result of the agreement, have since in general appreciated further following the increased world demand.
§ Mr. HARDIEIs there any reason why we are not making pig iron instead of importing it; and why we are not making the coke which we are also importing?
§ Dr. BURGINI think we shall find that the production of pig iron will show a steady increase, and that it will be necessary to continue to import pig iron for some time. With regard to coke, I think coke ovens may have something to do with it.
§ Mr. HARDIEIs it not entirely due to the lack of foresight on the part of the Government on the industrial side?