§ 18. Mr. STOREYasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will state for 1935 and 1936, to date, the production of iron and steel rivets in this country and the quantity imported?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANParticulars of the United Kingdom production and imports of rivets are not distinguished separately from those of washers, and 1934 is the latest year for which the production of rivets and washers in the aggregate is available. The total imports of iron and steel rivets and washers amounted to 1,991 tons during the year 1935 and to 3,095 tons during the first 11 months of 1936.
§ Mr. STOREYIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the importation of foreign rivets has increased by three and a half times since 1934, that the bulk of these rivets go to shipyards on the River Wear, where works are being closed, solely owing to foreign competition, and will he take steps to safeguard the interests of other works on the North-East Coast?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANThe reason why rivets and other materials were given freedom of entry was in order to facilitate shipbuilding.
§ Mr. THORNEIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that all the rivets we want in this country can be made in Birmingham?