HC Deb 23 January 1951 vol 483 cc35-7
67. Mr. Edelman

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer through which agency he informs the United States authorities of Britain's raw material needs, and co-ordinates with them the purchase and allocation of such materials.

Mr. Gaitskell

We are in close and continuous touch with the United States Government on all raw material problems. We also participate in any discussions of raw materials through our membership of N.A.T.O. and O.E.E.C. I hope that the Governments concerned, working together in the international commodity groups whose establishment has been proposed by the Government of the United Kingdom, United States and France, will be able to find ways of dealing successfully with these difficult problems.

Mr. Edelman

Will my right hon. Friend say whether steel is one of the materials under consideration, and what representations he has made in Washington concerning the unilateral repudiation by the Americans of contracts for large quantities of sheet steel essential to the motor industry and the defence programme?

Mr. Gaitskell

The problem of steel is being considered in O.E.E.C., because consumption in Europe is primarily from production in Europe.

Mr. Edelman

Is it not the case that these contracts were for forward shipments of sheet steel from America, and the fact that these contracts have been repudiated is bound to have a damaging effect both on the motor industry and on the defence programme?

Mr. Gaitskell

My hon. Friend had better put down a Question to the Minister of Supply concerning the repudiation of contracts.

68. Mr. Edelman

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what progress he has made towards setting up a Combined Purchasing and Commodity Board within the framework of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation.

Mr. Gaitskell

It is not at present contemplated that such a board should be set up within the framework of N.A.T.O.

Mr. Edelman

Will my right hon. Friend say when the new board that is envisaged will be functioning?

Mr. Gaitskell

I thought I made it plain to my hon. Friend that setting up such a board as suggested in the Question was not at present contemplated. Perhaps my hon. Friend is thinking about the Defence Production Board which is in process of being formed.