BASIC SLAG.

HC Deb 19 December 1938 vol 342 cc2468-9

65. Rear-Admiral Beamish

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether, as home-produced basic slag has not been sufficient to meet the requirements of farmers, he will provide explanatory figures and proposals for making up the shortage?

Mr. W. S. Morrison

As my hon. and gallant Friend will appreciate, the demand for basic slag has been greatly stimulated by the operation of the Land Fertility Scheme. During the period from 6th September, 1937, to 31st May, 1938, which period covered the greater part of the 1937–38 fertiliser season, applications for contributions under the Scheme were made in respect of 409,000 tons of basic slag. It is estimated that this quantity represents an increase of 70 per cent. over the preceding season. As regards supplies, I am sending my hon. Friend a copy of the reply I gave on 16th December to a question on this subject by my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Penrith and Cocker-mouth (Major Dower).

Rear-Admiral Beamish

May I ask whether the foreign imported slag cannot rank for subsidy?

Mr. Morrison

Under the present scheme that is not possible.

Sir Malcolm Barclay-Harvey

Could my right hon. Friend say what proportion of the figure he mentioned was in Scotland and what in England?

Mr. Morrison

I could with notice.

Mr. Paling

Does the price of basic slag remain at the same level as when the Act was passed?

Mr. Morrison

It has been reduced this year from the price at which it stood when the Act came into operation.

Major Whiteley

Will my right hon. Friend bear in mind that the scheme for cheap basic slag and lime was designed to help the farmer primarily and that the help which it gives to the steel industry is secondary?

Mr. Morrison

Certainly. The scheme was designed solely to help the farmer.

Mr. J. Morgan

Is the right hon. Gentleman considering replacing the deficiency that there apparently is in the supply of basic slag by other forms of home-produced fertilisers?

Mr. Morrison

If the hon. Member will indicate what home-produced fertilisers he has in mind I will consider the matter.