HC Deb 19 April 1948 vol 449 cc1422-5
33. Colonel J. R. H. Hutchison

asked the Minister of Supply whether the plans submitted by the British Iron and Steel Federation and the Joint Iron Council for increased production of crude steel and foundry iron have been approved, and whether he will make a statement.

Mr. G. R. Strauss

With the hon. and gallant Member's permission, I will circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT a list of the major schemes, already finally approved, which will contribute to the production of crude steel and foundry iron. Other schemes are still under consideration, but I can give no estimate of when approval will be given.

Following is the list:

Schemes contributing to the Production of Crude Steel and Foundry Pig Iron.
Schemes approved in detail.
Firm. Location. Scheme.
Steel Co. of Wales Margam Installation of ore unloading plant. Additions to coke ovens. Ore preparation plant and services. Rebuilding of two blast furnaces and new melting shop.
Richard Thomas & Baldwins Ebbw Vale New coke oven battery. Additional open hearth steelmaking furnace.
Dorman Long & Co. Ltd. Middlesbrough Ore unloading, crushing, screening and sintering plant on Teesside. Two new blast furnaces at Cleveland to replace obsolescent units. New steelmaking plant at Lackenby.
Consett Iron Co, Consett New coke oven battery. Provision of two modern blast furnaces to replace obsolescent units.
Skinningrove Iron Co. Saltburn Replacement of blast furnace by one modern unit. Reorganisation of steelmaking plant.
Colvilles Clyde Ironworks Additional coke ovens. Provision of third blast furnace.
Colvilles Clydebridge Replacement of steelmaking furnaces.
Colvilles Dalzell Conversion of furnaces to oil firing.
Stewarts & Lloyds Clydesdale Reconstruction of melting shop.
United Steel Companies Treeton Replacement of coke oven battery.
John Baker & Bessemer Rotherham Installation of new open hearth steelmaking furnace.
Park Gate Iron & Steel Co., Ltd. Rotherham Mechanisation of equipment for charging blast furnaces.
John Summers & Sons Shotton Erection of coke ovens and blast furnace. New melting shop.
Round Oak Steelworks Brierley Hill New melting shop.
Sheepbridge Coal & Iron Co. Chesterfield Rebuilding of two blast furnaces. Installation of ore crushing, screening and sintering plant and gas cleaning plant.
Stewarts & Lloyds Corby Provision of ore preparation plant. Increase in coke oven capacity. New open hearth melting shop.
United Steel Companies Scunthorpe New coke oven battery. Erection of two new blast furnaces to replace obsolescent units. New melting shop.
John Lysaght Scunthorpe Works, Scunthorpe. New coke oven battery. Provision of ore crushing plant and services. Modernisation of existing blast furnace and erection of modern blast furnace to replace obsolescent unit. Rebuilding and enlargement of steelmaking furnaces.
Richard Thomas & Baldwins Scunthorpe New blast furnace to replace two obsolete units. Provision of ore handling plant and pig casting machines. Various other improvements.

37. Mr. Erroll

asked the Minister of Supply, how many schemes for the development of the industry have been examined and passed by the Iron and Steel Board; how many are at present under examination; how many are awaiting examination; and how many are expected to be submitted to the Board during the rest of the year.

Mr. G. R. Strauss

Five hundred and twenty-six schemes have been examined and passed by the Iron and Steel Board, 69 are under examination, and there is no scheme awaiting examination. It is expected that nine major schemes will be submitted during the rest of 1948, but the number of minor schemes cannot be estimated.

Mr. Erroll

As no more schemes are awaiting examination, can the Minister say why it has proved necessary to increase the staff of the Iron and Steel Board?

Mr. Strauss

That is an entirely different question. If the hon. Gentleman will put it down I will answer it. The work of the Iron and Steel Board goes far beyond the work indicated here.