§ 52. Mr. Parkerasked the Minister of Supply whether he will ask Government 1637 Departments, local authorities, and private individuals, to remove unnecessary railings and contribute them under the Steel Scrap Order, 1940, to assist steel production?
§ Mr. BurginThe Iron and Steel Control have already suggested in various quarters that railings which no longer serve any useful purpose should be disposed of for scrap, and I will certainly pursue this matter.
§ 54. Mr. Thorneasked the Minister of Supply whether he is aware of the thousands of tons of disused tramway-track rails in many parts of Greater London and other parts of the country that could be used for steel making; whether any scheme has been worked out for having the rails taken up; and whether he intends taking any action in the matter?
§ Mr. BurginI have already discussed this matter with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Transport, and, as a result, arrangements have been made by the interests concerned to facilitate the lifting of disused tramway tracks wherever practicable so as to make them available to steelworks.
§ Mr. H. MorrisonWill that arrangement which the right hon. Gentleman has made with the Minister of Transport include assistance to the local authorities for the reinstatement of the highway, because unless such assistance is given, I am afraid that the Minister will be up against it?
§ Mr. BurginI know the problem to which the right hon. Gentleman calls attention, but for the moment I am concerned with collecting the rails, and the arrangements with regard to the roads are a matter which would concern my right hon. Friend the Minister of Transport. I am hoping to get hold of something like 100,000 tons altogether all over the country, of which approximately a half will be from the London area.
§ Mr. WoodburnWill the right hon. Gentleman consider collecting some of the old German guns while he is doing it, and so get rid of them?