§ The following Questions stood upon the Order Paper in the name of Commander Sir ARCHIBALD SOUTHBY:
§ 1. To ask the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Economic Warfare the estimated daily amount of iron-ore now reaching Narvik from Sweden and being shipped thence to Germany; to what extent it is estimated that these shipments will increase; and has the damage sustained by the port of Narvik during the Norwegian campaign now been repaired?
§ 3. To ask the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Economic Warfare the estimated production of nitrates and other chemicals of the Norsk Hydro-elektrisk Kvaelstof Aktieselskab plants; and how much of this goes to Sweden and Denmark and thence to Germany?
§ 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. SouthbyIs 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. FootI think my hon. and gallant Friend has got mixed up with this Question and the next Question on the Order Paper.
§ Sir A. SouthbyWill 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 WilliamsIs not the answer the Parliamentary Secretary has given the answer to Question No. 3 and not to Question No. 1?
§ Sir A. SouthbyThe 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. WilliamsIs it true that the plant in question produces laughing gas?
§ Mr. FootIf 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. SouthbyIs 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. FootThat 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. Southbyasked 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. FootThe 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. SouthbyMr. Speaker, may I ask Question No. 3, as there was some doubt as to whether the answer to it was read?
§ Mr. SpeakerThe answer to Question No. 3 has already been given.