§ 2. Dr. Strossasked the President of the Board of Trade when Britain last imported tungsten from China; and in what quantity.
§ The President of the Board of Trade (Mr. Peter Thorneycroft)Imports of tungsten ores consigned from China were last recorded in the trade statistics in March and April, 1952, the quantity imported in the two months being 21 tons.
§ Dr. StrossIs it not true to say that tungsten has gone up in price in recent years considerably, and even if it is not desirable to do so now, would the President of the Board of Trade not agree that at some more favourable time in the future it would be useful to import it from China in order, it is hoped, to bring the price down?
§ Mr. ThorneycroftThe fact is that very little has been on offer from China since the outbreak of the Korean War.