§ 1 and 2. Mr. Turtonasked the Minister of Supply (1) what proportion of the total consumption of lead in this country in 1938 was used for building and water supply, for cable manufacture and for battery manufacture respectively; and what are the respective proportions allocated for these purposes at the present time;
(2) what was the proportion of iron and steel production devoted in 1938 to the manufacture of pipes for water supplies; and what proportion of iron and steel production is allocated at the present time for this purpose.
§ The Minister of Supply (Mr. G. R. Strauss)Full statistics are not available for 1938, but I will circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT a table giving estimates of consumption of lead and steel by these industries in that year. I cannot give the hon. Member the proportion allocated at the present time, as it is contrary to the policy of the Government to give the allocations of materials to particular industries.
§ Mr. TurtonCan the right hon. Gentleman say what degree of priority in allocation is given to rural water supplies?
§ Mr. StraussAllocation is made according to the needs and demands of firms, but the hon. Member will appreciate that there are many substitutes, besides lead and steel, for making water pipes.
§ Mr. BaldwinWould not the right hon. Gentleman agree that it would be better to keep the steel in England for water supplies, rather than to send it to Holland so that we can get their strawberries?
§ Sir Waldron SmithersIs not all this secrecy simply to cover up the blunders of the Government?
§ Following is the table:
| Proportion of total production. | |
| Per cent. | |
| Lead sheet and pipe for building and water supply | 40 |
| Lead for cables | 25 |
| Lead for batteries | 10 |
| Steel for water pipes | 3 |