HC Deb 21 August 1940 vol 364 cc1306-7
Sir T. Moore

asked the Minister of Supply whether he will request the different London boroughs to investigate, in conjunction both with tenants and ground landlords, the possibility of removing for manufacturing purposes large quantities of existing railings in their various areas?

Mr. H. Morrison

I am in touch with the London boroughs on the subject, and substantial quantities of railings have already been obtained. If I have any reason to be dissatisfied with the results obtained by the present methods, I shall not hesitate to take further steps, and the nature of these steps is now under consideration.

Mr. Thorne

Is there a shortage of scrap iron at present anywhere?

Mr. Morrison

In some respects there is sometimes a surplus from the point of view of getting it effectively used, but it is a good thing that we should have reserves; nevertheless it is desirable that my machinery should be such that we can rapidly deal with all the scrap received.

Mr. Thorne

Are we to understand that there is a shortage now?

Mr. Morrison

There are shortages in certain respects, but on the other hand, one must relate the collection of scrap to facilities for transporting it and disposing of it, and that we are trying to do.

Sir F. Fremantle

Does the right hon. Gentleman realise that many people have railings but that it is difficult to extract them?

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