HC Deb 08 July 1946 vol 425 cc17-8
44. Mr. Awbery

asked the Minister of Supply how many factories, erected during the war for the manufacture of magnesium, are now lying idle; what the cost of these has been; and what his policy is regarding them for the future.

Mr. Wilmot

Three factories, erected at Government expense during the war, have ceased the production of magnesium as, with the end of the war the demand has fallen very steeply. The first, erected at a cost of £990,000, is surplus to requirements and has been transferred to the Ministry of Works for temporary house production, pending a decision as to its final use. The second, erected at a cost of £4,350,000, has been placed on a care and maintenance basis as standby capacity, and is being used for storage. The third was only partly employed on magnesium production, expenditure on magnesium capacity being £760,000. The entire factory has been notified as surplus, to the Board of Trade.

Mr. Awbery

Are these factories to be turned over to peace purposes? If so, when?

Mr. Wilmot

If my hon. Friend will look at my answer, I think he will find there the answer to his supplementary question. One of the factories is being used now for peacetime manufactures. Another has been declared to the Board of Trade, for them to find a new use for it, and the third is on a care and maintenance basis, being used for storage and as standby capacity.

Mr. Awbery

Is it not a fact that the storing is only in the yard, and that the factory is not being used?

Mr. P. Thorneycroft

Do I gather from the Minister's answer that £4 million worth of factory space is standing there as standby capacity? One would like to know how long it is to be standing there as standby capacity, and when it will be used for useful productive purposes.

Mr. Wilmot

These factories were part of our war potential. The demand for magnesium during the war was 100,000 tons per annum, but it is now less than 2,500 tons, and most of that can be got from scrap. It is impossible to destroy the capacity to produce magnesium. The best arrangements are being made.