§ 30. Mr. Lewisasked the Minister of Materials the price paid by his Department for sulphate of potash, chemical wood pulp, sulphuric acid, 168° T.W., glycerine, sulphur, talc, iron ore, per ton, raw linseed oil, turpentine, creosote, in- 20 ment for tin, copper, pig iron, zinc (English sheets), lead (sheets), galvanised iron, nickel, per ton, chromium, per pound, and platinum and fine gold, per ounce, during the year 1952, showing comparisons with the prices for these articles in the years 1929, 1939, 1949, 1950 and 1951.
§ Mr. H. StraussSince the answer is long, I will, with permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Mr. LewisWould the hon. and learned Gentleman say whether the price paid for these materials by his Department was more in 1952 than in 1951, or whether it was less?
§ Mr. StraussI would rather not summarise figures from a long answer which the hon. Gentleman will have an opportunity to study.
Following is the answer:
Of the commodities named, the Ministry of Materials traded only in virgin copper, lead and zinc during 1952. Virgin lead and zinc have now reverted to private trade. The Department has never traded in lead and zinc sheets.The following table shows the prices of these metals in the years named. Since it is impossible to quote average purchase prices at short notice, the table gives the Ministry's selling prices for the years of public trading. For 1929 and 1939, the prices are those at which consumers in the United Kingdom got their metals.
§ dustrial methylated spirit, and paint, per gallon, during the year 1952. showing comparisons with the prices paid for these articles in the years. 1929, 1939, 1949, 1950 and 1951.
§ Mr. H. StraussSince the Answer is long, I will, with permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Mr. LewisIs the Minister aware that, generally speaking, the prices paid last year for the majority of these materials were less than those paid in 1951? Why, therefore, should the cost of living have risen so much? Can we have an explanation?
§ Mr. StraussThat has nothing to do with the Question which the hon. Member put on the Order Paper, which asks
| UNITED KINGDOM PURCHASE PRICES OF SULPHATE OF POTASH, SULPHUR AND SULPHURIC ACID (168 T.W., (per ton c.i.f.) | ||||||||||||||||||
| — | 1929 | 1939 | 1949 | 1950 | 1951 | 1952 | ||||||||||||
| £ | s. | d. | £ | s. | d. | £ | s. | d. | £ | s. | d. | £ | s. | d. | £ | s. | d. | |
| Sulphate of Potash. | 10 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 18 | 6 | No purchases | 15 | 2 | 0 | 15 | 18 | 10 | 16 | 10 | 0 | ||
| Sulphur— | ||||||||||||||||||
| Acid | No figures | 8 | 18 | 10 | 8 | 8 | 0 | 10 | 2 | 0 | 15 | 5 | 0 | 13 | 2 | 0 | ||
| Regular | No figures | No figures | 8 | 15 | 0 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 6 | 0 | 13 | 10 | 0 | ||||
| Sulphuric Acid | No figures | No figures | 5 | 16 | 0 | 6 | 4 | 0 | 9 | 11 | 0 | 11 | 0 | 0 |