§ 43. Mr. Cluseasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works and Planning the approximate number of houses from which iron railings have been collected; the total tonnage so far recovered; the number of houses in respect of which compensation claims have been received; and to what extent claims at a rate in excess of the standard rate of compensation of 25s. per ton have been made?
§ The Joint Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works and Planning (Mr. Hicks)At the end of August last the iron railings had been removed from approximately 2,000,000 houses and the weight of metal recovered for scrap was 310,315 tons. Compensation had been claimed in 307,000 cases. Of these only 27,000 were for sums at a rate in excess of 25s. per ton, but 20,000 had now been settled within that rate. The small balance of 7,000 cases remains. 765 Negotiations in respect of these cases are now proceeding, and I am glad to be able to say that, apart from incidentals, it has not hitherto been necessary to pay compensation at a rate in excess of 25s. per ton.
§ Mr. BossomCan my hon. Friend explain how many tons of this iron have already been used and how many still remain in the collectors' dumps?