HC Deb 30 June 1936 vol 314 cc201-2
13 Mr. ANDERSON

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) the total output of pig-iron each month this year and the maximum output possible each month this year;

(2) the number of blast furnaces out of use in 1913, 1920, 1035 and 1936, respectively;

(3) the number of blast furnaces in operation in this country in 1913, 1920 to 1935, and 1936, respectively?

Mr. RUNCIMAN

As the answer consists mainly of figures, I will circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Mr. ANDERSON

Are there any blast furnaces not at work in the Special Areas?

Mr. RUNCIMAN

I cannot say without notice.

Following is the Answer:

The following particulars are supplied by the British Iron and Steel Federation.

The production of pig-iron in the United Kingdom in each month January to May, 1936, was as follow:

Tons.
January … … … 595,500
February … … … 584,700
March … … … 633,600
April … … … 629,800
May … … … 661,000

It has been estimated that at the end of 1935 the number of furnaces that could be blowing at one time was 170, representing an effective annual capacity of rather more than 11 million tons. No estimate has been made for a later period.

The following statement shows the number of blast furnaces in existence in the United Kingdom, and the number in blast at the end of the periods specified. It will be appreciated, however, that the statement gives no indication of the average capacity of the furnaces in blast in the different periods.

— Total number in existence. Number in blast.
1913 … … … 496 338(a)
1920 … … … 481 274
1921 … … … 486 77
1922 … … … 485 169
1923 … … … 482 204
1924 … … … 475 167
1925 … … … 464 141
1926 … … … 442 78
1927 … … … 424 149
1928 … … … 410 132
1929 … … … 394 162
1930 … … … 356 76
1931 … … … 350 70
1932 … … … 344 60
1933 … … … 332 81
1934 … … … 308 96
1935 … … … 291 102
1936(May) … … (b) 112

(a) Average for year.

(b) Not available.