§ 24. Mr. Parkinasked the Minister of Supply whether he will make a further statement as to the progress made in examining the measures necessary to secure an increase in scrap supplies for the iron and steel industry.
§ Mr. G. R. StraussYes, Sir. The general scrap position has improved slightly in recent weeks, but the longer term outlook remains serious. Accordingly I have decided to appoint a committee of three members, drawn from outside both Government Departments and the steel industry, to consider and report on what special measures can be taken to secure increased supplies. I have been fortunate in securing the services as Chairman of the committee of Sir Graham Cunningham, who was Controller-General of Munitions Production in the Ministry of Supply during the war; the other two members will be Lieut.-General Sir Kenneth Loch and Dr. Slade. Mr. A. F. Barnes, of the Iron and Steel Board, will be Secretary to the Committee, which is to begin work at once.
§ Mr. RentonCan the Minister say whether he has considered the possibility of using as scrap the Japanese warships referred to in a very recent White Paper as being redundant, and which apparently are being scrapped a long way from here, but which might very well be sailed here and used for scrap?
§ Mr. StraussI do not know whether it has been specifically considered. I doubt whether it would be of great value; we have had a considerable supply of scrapped battleships—the enemy's and our own—with which we have to deal in the next 18 months or so, and I do not think we could deal with much more than we have already got.
§ Mr. WillisCan my right hon. Friend say whether it is still expected that we might get a million tons of scrap from Germany this year?
§ Mr. StraussI doubt whether we shall get as much as that, but we want to get as much as we can during the coming year.