HC Deb 08 February 1937 vol 320 cc27-9
74. Mr. Denville

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has considered the copy sent to him of the letter issued by the Lord Mayor of Newcastle-upon-Tyne with regard to a new £3,500,000 steel plant to be erected at Scunthorpe, in Lincolnshire; and, in view of this district being a prosperous one, will he endeavour to arrange for these works to be set up in the Special Areas where they are most needed?

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

I am not clear what letter my hon. Friend has in mind, and would refer him to the replies which I gave on 3rd February to the hon. Members for Gateshead (Mr. Magnay) and for the Clayton Division (Mr. Jagger).

Mr. Shinwell

Does not this scramble among Members for the setting up of new industries in their areas justify the Government in dealing with the location of industry on scientific lines?

Dr. Burgin

For the moment we are discussing an ore bed, which is a little difficult to move to any other constituency.

The following statement shows the quantity and average declared value (f.o.b.) of iron and steel scrap and waste, fit only for the recovery of metal, exported from the United Kingdom to foreign countries during each of the years 1935 and 1936, distinguishing the principal countries of consignment. The total exports of pig iron to foreign countries were 116,004 tons in 1935 and 78,396 tons in 1936.
Countries to which consigned. 1935. 1936.
Quantity. Average declared value per ton. Quantity. Average declared value per ton.
Tons. £ s. d. Tons. £ s. d.
Sweden 683 2 1 3 5,239 2 12 7
Poland (including Dantzig) 47,871 2 11 6 39,610 2 12 8
Germany 31,313 2 11 7 40,391 2 11 11
Netherlands 7,066 2 16 2 4,938 2 16 1
Belgium 14,206 2 2 10 12,331 2 4 10
Spain 40,825 2 8 4 15,787 2 13 11
China (exclusive of Hong Kong, Macao, Manchuria and leased territories). 10,087 3 1 11 12,416 2 19 10
Japan (including Formosa) 5,401 3 17 4 2,987 4 7 4
Other Foreign countries 4,210 2 15 1 1,298 3 1 3
Total to foreign countries 161,662 2 11 9 134,997 2 13 6
NOTE.—The particulars for 1936 are provisional.
Mr. Shinwell

Does not the question relate to the establishment of new steel works?

Mr. Denville

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that Newcastle-upon-Tyne is still part of the British Empire and is on the North-East coast of Britain?

76. Mr. Thorne

asked the President of the Board of Trade the number of tons of scrap iron and scrap steel exported to foreign countries for the years 1935 and 1936 to the nearest available date; the price per ton for which it was sold; to what countries it was exported; whether the Government will consider placing an embargo upon the export of scrap iron and scrap steel; and how many tons of pig-iron were exported to foreign countries for the years 1935 to 1936 to the nearest available date?

Dr. Burgin

With the hon. Member's permission I will circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT a table giving the figures for which he asks. These figures show that the total exports of scrap iron and steel to foreign countries were less in 1936 than in 1935. Further, our imports of this material in 1936 exceeded 1,000,000 tons. In these circumstances legislation prohibiting the export of scrap iron and steel does not seem to be called for.

Following is the information:

77. Mr. Thorne

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many tons of pig iron were exported to America and Canada for the year ended 1936; and how many tons were exported to Germany for the years ended 1935 and 1936?

Dr. Burgin

During the year 1936 the United Kingdom exports of pig iron consigned to the United States were 4,000 tons and to Canada 2,700 tons. Exports to Germany amounted to 6,600 tons in 1935 and 10,400 tons in 1936.

Mr. Thorne

Is the hon. Gentleman not aware that last week he led the House to understand that there was a shortage of pig iron? If that is so, why is he allowing pig iron to be exported to the detriment of the people of this country?

Dr. Burgin

It is usually desirable in trade that there should be a two-way traffic.