HC Deb 03 February 1937 vol 319 cc1603-5
67. Mr. Magnay

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether any report has been received by him from the Import Duties Advisory Committee which, as he told the House on 15th July, 1936, he had asked to examine all data regarding the iron and steel industy, to report on the position of the industry and the general lines of its future development, and also to consider whether any further extension of plant should take place until all the social implications involved had been considered?

The Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Trade (Dr. Burgin)

The Import Duties Advisory Committee's inquiry into the iron and steel industry is being actively pursued. It covers a wide field, and I understand that the report will not be completed for some time.

Mr. R. Acland

Will this report be published when it is completed?

Dr. Burgin

I think that is another question.

68. Mr. Magnay

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether the Import Duties Advisory Committee were aware of the proposal to commence new steelworks at Scunthorpe; if so, when did they report it to him; what were the terms of such report; and when can this House have an opportunity of considering it?

69. Mr. Jagger

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that a new steel works is to be built in Lincolnshire; and whether he will intervene to secure that the United Steel Company shall divert this new development to Jarrow?

Dr. Burgin

The Import Duties Advisory Committee have been for some time aware that developments in the Lincolnshire ore field, and particularly at Scunthorpe, were under consideration. In the light of the progess already mane with the committee's general inquiry into the industry, including evidence from independent experts as to the importance to the industry of development in this ore field and the present position of demand in relation to productive capacity in the industry, the committee have informed me that they are satisfied that such a scheme of development in this area is necessary and in the national interest. It will not, however, preclude consideration of suitable schemes for other areas.

Mr. Magnay

Is the hon. Gentleman not aware that the whole trend of the discussion on 15th July last was that the full requirements of the trade were then met by the factories which were then set up, and that it was the plain intention of the speech of the right hon. Gentleman the President of the Board of Trade that nothing at all should be done until this House had had the benefit of the advice of this Committee and its recommendations?

Dr. Burgin

I hope the House will not have concluded anything of the kind. At a time when there is tremendous expansion in iron and steel and an enormous demand for the products of that industry, to suggest that the whole industry should stand still until a report covering a wide field is made is really quite impossible. The ore field all round Scunthorpe, as anyone knows who has visited the district, is a most important natural resource and ought to be developed as rapidly as possible. This is a unanimous scheme, well backed, and it ought to have the approbation of this House.

Mr. Magnay

The Committee was set up to consider the economic as well as the social implications—.[HON. MEMBERS: "Speech"]—In view of the unsatisfactory answer and of the Lord Mayor's conference to be held in Newcastle, I beg to give notice that I will raise this question on the Adjournment to-night.