§ 52. Mr. Thomas Fraserasked the Minister of Supply whether he will consult with the appropriate Government Departments to ascertain the quality and quantity of light steel sheeting required by the light engineering firms that have been established in Scotland during the war; and investigate the possibility of having that market supplied from Scottish production.
§ The Minister of Supply (Sir Andrew Duncan)We are in close consultation, where necessary, with other Government Departments concerned, and all practicable steps are being taken to relate the production of steel sheets geographically to consumption in order to save transport and labour.
§ Mr. FraserIs not the right hon. Gentleman aware that these new firms which were established in Scotland during the war have applied without success to Scottish firms for the supply of steel sheets and they are still getting them from English firms?
§ Sir A. DuncanNo, Sir. I do know that there are certain qualities of steel sheets which are not made in Scotland and which are required by producers in Scotland, and I believe that they are being sent.
§ Mr. FraserIs there any reason why they should not be made in Scotland?
§ Sir A. DuncanThere is no plant in Scotland with which to make them.
§ Mr. GallacherWhy is not there a plant in Scotland in order to make them?
§ 53. Mr. Thomas Fraserasked the Minister of Supply to what extent the total or partial closure of steel making plants has lessened the production of steel in Scotland during the past six months.
§ Sir A. DuncanIt would not be in the public interest to publish particulars of steel output, but I can say that production in Scotland has followed the same trend as in Great Britain as a whole.
§ 54. Mr. Thomas Fraserasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works, why the steel sheeting to be used in the construction of prefabricated houses in Scotland is not to be rolled in Scottish mills.
§ The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works (Mr. Hicks)No decision has been reached on the question where the steel sheeting required for the emergency factory-made house will be rolled. It will be a question of finding the mills where the necessary capacity can be made available without affecting other vital demands. All sources will be fully considered.
§ Mr. GallacherIs it not possible that there might be an objection on the part of Scottish people to live in prefabricated houses that have been made in England?