ECONOMIC WARFARE (IRON ORE, SULPHUR AND NITRATES) (Hansard, 12 October 1943)

§ The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Economic Warfare (Mr. Dingle Foot)
According to my information, these plants produced about 64,000 metric tons of nitrogen in 1941–42, and about 8o,000 metric tons in 194–43. By far the greater part of this production was probably used in the manufacture of fertilisers, chiefly nitrate of lime. These plants also produce nitrous oxide, carbon dioxide, and the rarer gases, namely argon, neon, xeon and krypton. Exports to Sweden in 194–42 were 100,000 tons of nitrate of lime and about 6,000 tons of nitric acid, while exports to Denmark and Finland amounted to 178,000 tons of nitrate of lime and 28,000 tons of nitrate of lime respectively. I regret that I have no corresponding figures of exports for 194–43, but the proportions were probably similar. There were no re-exports 680 from Sweden of either commodity, and it is unlikely that there were any re-exports form Denmark, though supplies consigned to Germany may have passed through Denmark.

§ Sir A. Southby
Is my hon. Friend aware that in the first week of June at least 8,000 tons of ore a day were leaving Narvik and that about 12 vessels were employed in conveying these supplies from Norway to Germany?

§ Mr. Foot
I think my hon. and gallant Friend has got mixed up with this Question and the next Question on the Order Paper.

§ Sir A. Southby
Will my hon. Friend answer the last part of the first Question, as, to whether the damage sustained by the port of Narvik has been repaired?

§ Sir Herbert Williams
Is not the answer the Parliamentary Secretary has given the answer to Question No. 3 and not to Question No. 1?

§ Mr. Foot
I apologise to the House; I have the Questions in the wrong order.

§ Sir A. Southby
The hon. Member should apologise to the hon. Member for Epsom (Sir A. Southby) too. As I am in doubt as to whether we have had the answer to Question No. 1 or Question No. 3, will the Parliamentary Secretary clear up that doubt?

§ Sir H. Williams
Is it true that the plant in question produces laughing gas?

§ Mr. Foot
If I may, I will now answer Question No. 1. The daily amount of iron ore now reaching Narvik from Sweden and being shipped therefrom to Germany is between 5,000 and 7,000 tons. I do not expect any very substantial increase in this traffic, since it is limited by the handling facilities at the port, and by the amount of shipping which the enemy can make available. As regards the last part of the Question, I understand that only one of the three ore quays has been repaired.

§ Sir A. Southby
Is my hon. Friend aware that in the first week in June alone 8,000 tons of ore per day were going into Narvik and that at least 12 ships were employed in taking the ore from Narvik to Germany?

§ Mr. Foot
That is another question. This Question refers to the daily quantity of iron ore now leaving the Port of Narvik, and I have given my hon. and gallant Friend our latest information.

§ 2. Sir A. Southby
asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Economic Warfare the estimated production of sulphur from the Orkla Mining Company in the South Trondheim area of Norway; and how much of that is being exported to Germany?

§ Mr. Foot
The capacity of the Thamshavn plant of the Orkla Mining Company is about 140,000 tons per annum. But according to my information production in 1942 was probably below these figures. I have no precise figures as to exports, but there is reason to believe that only a small proportion of current output is being exported to Germany.

§ Sir A. Southby
Mr. Speaker, may I ask Question No. 3, as there was some doubt as to whether the answer to it was read?

§ Mr. Speaker
The answer to Question No. 3 has already been given.