§ 9. Mr. G. Hardieasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that a Glasgow firm, David Bennie and Sons, Petershill Road, have had to close a re-rolling mill because of the shortage of steel billets and that this is the second firm in Glasgow which has had to curtail operations because of the scarcity of material in the past two weeks; and, in view of the increased unemployment brought about by the closures, whether he will state what action the Government intend to take to increase the production 2724 of iron and steel so that it will be unnecessary for auxiliary industries to suspend workers because of the lack of materials?
§ The President of the Board of Trade (Mr. Runciman)I am informed that the British Iron and Steel Federation are in close touch with this firm regarding supplies of raw material, and that every effort is being made to maintain and increase supplies.
§ Mr. HardieWhy are the Government making no provision for a small firm like this, which has orders for 1,000 tons which must be delivered by 31st May, after which there will be a rise in the price of steel? If they have not the materials with which to complete those orders and the increase in price of steel takes place, what will then be the position of that firm?
§ Mr. RuncimanAs I said, the firm are in close touch with the Federation and I have no doubt that they will be dealing not only with present but with future needs.
§ 10. Mr. Hardieasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the Langloan Ironworks, Coatbridge, built at great cost and since reconstructed, have been acquired by a firm of ship-breakers for demolition for the purpose of selling the effects as scrap; that the sale includes six blast furnaces, which are also to be scrapped; and that negotiations are in progress for the destruction of other furnaces in Scotland; and what action the Government intend to take to prevent the demolition of furnaces, in view of the necessity for increased production of iron and steel because of the inability of the existing plants to meet the demands?
§ Mr. RuncimanI am informed that the British Iron and Steel Federation are at present investigating the possibility of bringing further blast furnaces into operation in Scotland. Pending the result of these investigations, the blast furnaces at Langloan Ironworks, which have not been in operation since 1920, will not be dismantled.
§ Mr. HardieSince this firm has now agreed to open some furnaces, why could this not have been done six months or 12 months ago? Are the Board of Trade 2725 so blind that they could not see the necessity for having some blast furnaces working in Scotland before now?
§ 14. Mr. N. Macleanasked the President of the Board of Trade the tonnage of iron ore and other raw materials for the iron and steel industry imported to Glasgow from Spain since July, 1936, to the latest convenient date; and the tonnage of those materials imported to Glasgow from Spain for the 12 months prior to July, 1936?
§ Mr. RuncimanDuring the eight months ended February, 1937, 48,000 tons of iron ore and concentrates consigned from Spain were imported into the port of Glasgow. Corresponding particulars of imports for the preceding 12 months are not available, but during the preceding six months they amounted to 17,000 tons. No iron and steel scrap and waste was imported into Glasgow from Spain during the period January, 1936, to February, 1937.