15. Mr. ANDERSONasked the President of the Board of Trade the quantity of pig iron imported during the last six months from Russia and India, respectively; and why this commodity has not been produced in this country?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANThe quantity of pig iron imported into this country during the six months ended May, 1936, from Russia and India, amounted to 7,279 tons and 41,579 tons respectively. There is at present a heavy demand for pig iron owing to increased activity in the steel industry. Production in the United Kingdom is increasing rapidly. The output for the six months ended in May last was 3,664,000 tons.
Mr. ANDERSONIs the importation of this pig iron due to the fact that English and Scottish companies cannot produce it in sufficient quantities?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANThe answer to that question must be qualified by the fact that the English users of pig iron have made greater demands than anyone anticipated a short time ago.
§ Mr. RUNCIMANIt would be unfair to draw that conclusion.
§ Mr. THORNECan the Minister say whether all the blast furnaces in this country are still blowing?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANI must have notice of that question.