§ 30. Mr. Thorneasked the Minister of Supply whether he can give any information in connection with the need of collecting the girders and iron from bombed buildings in and around London whether this scrap iron is now wanted for the making of steel; and whether he has been in consultation with the steel control contractors about the matter?
§ The Joint Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Supply (Mr. Harold Macmillan)There is a continued need for all the iron and steel scrap available to ensure present and future production of steel. The Iron and Steel Control are working with the London County Council and the special committee set up by the London Defence Authority for the clearance of the bombed sites to secure the removal and utilisation of the steel as rapidly as practicable, and the fullest use is being made of the available facilities of demolition contractors and scrap merchants.
§ Mr. ThorneCan the House be assured that the steel furnaces are not held up for the lack of scrap iron?
§ Mr. MacmillanThe flow of scrap is satisfactory, and as regards this particular scrap it is flowing now at the rate of about 3,500 tons per week from London alone, which is about three times the rate which obtained about a month ago.