§ 39. Mr. Nabarroasked the Minister of Supply whether he is yet in a position to give a reliable forecast of the total British production of iron and steel for the year 1951; and to what extent that production, added to iron and steel imports, will be adequate for the needs of the defence and export programmes and essential home consumption.
§ Mr. G. R. StraussNo reliable forecast of total United Kingdom production of iron and steel for this year can yet be given, but supplies should be adequate to meet the general requirements of the Defence and other essential programmes.
§ Mr. NabarroIn view of the Chancellor's statement last Thursday, when he said there would be a 10 per cent. gap between aggregate demand and aggregate supply, surely it is not unreasonable to ask the Minister to give us the arithmetic of the position.
§ Mr. StraussI said that no reliable forecast can yet be given, and anyhow the Chancellor did not give a specific figure of 10 per cent. He said it was unlikely to be more than 10 per cent.
§ Mr. Peter RobertsIn view of the Chancellor's statement, is not the Minister aware that there is a serious shortage at present? Does that mean that production is to be increased in the last half of the year?
§ Mr. StraussNo, there is a shortage now and I fear there will be a shortage during the rest of the year. The Question asks whether there will be sufficient to meet defence and other essential programmes and my answer is that, on the whole, there will be.
§ Mr. P. RobertsDoes that mean that supplies to other users will have to be cut down?
§ Mr. StraussWhen the allocation scheme comes into operation there will be some users who will have to do with rather less than they are using now.
§ Captain DuncanWhen the Minister talks about essential programmes does he include agriculture?
§ Mr. StraussSome aspects of it, certainly.
§ Mr. NabarroWhen will the Minister give a reliable forecast?
§ Mr. StraussThere are some uncertain factors and it is misleading to give any figure unless one knows how circumstances will turn out.
§ 42. Mr. Edelmanasked the Minister of Supply what action he has taken to ensure that there will be adequate supplies of imported iron ore for steel production in 1952.
§ Mr. G. R. StraussThe Iron and Steel Corporation of Great Britain is doing everything possible to ensure adequate supplies in 1952.
§ Mr. EdelmanIn view of that reply, will my right hon. Friend say whether he is satisfied with the present control over the iron ore importing companies by the Iron and Steel Federation? Will he also take care to ensure that the Federation does not use these companies to frustrate the will of the people as expressed in an Act of Parliament?
§ Mr. StraussI am not at all satisfied that the Corporation have, at present, adequate control over the importing companies.
§ Captain RyderIf I produce a case where the action of the Coal Board in withholding a supply of bunkers to a ship on charter is impeding the import of iron ore into this country, will the Minister look into it?
§ Mr. StraussI will certainly do so.
§ Mr. MitchisonIf my right hon. Friend has not got adequate powers over the Federation will he consider means of getting it soon?
§ Mr. StraussThe matter is at present under discussion between the Iron and Steel Corporation and the Federation, and I hope that the outcome will be satisfactory.