SPANISH IRON ORE SUPPLIES.

HC Deb 21 October 1937 vol 327 cc19-20

42. Sir J. Mellor

asked the President of the Board of Trade the position with regard to supplies of iron ore from Spain to the United Kingdom?

Mr. Stanley

I understand that any scarcity of supplies of iron ore from Spain is largely due to damage arising from military operations and lack of labour; there has, however, recently been some improvement and I trust that supplies will shortly be resumed on a scale commensurate with requirements.

Mr. Thurtle

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether these supplies of iron ore are new coming from that part of Spain which is known as Italian Spain?

Mr. G. Strauss

Is not the difficulty partly due to the fact that shipments which previously came to this country are now going to Germany?

Mr. Stanley

I have said in my reply that the difficulty arises largely from the military operations in Spain.

Lieut.-Commander Fletcher

May I ask whether any importing firms in this country have had their contracts denounced or suspended?

Mr. Stanley

Perhaps the hon. and gallant Member will put that question on the Order Paper.