HC Deb 15 December 1955 vol 547 cc1385-6
41. Mr. Gower

asked the President of the Board of Trade to make a statement about present production and stocks of steel in the United Kingdom; and to give an estimate of future prospects.

Mr. P. Thorneycroft

The annual rate of steel production in the United Kingdom during the first eleven months of 1955 was 19.8 million tons. There is a good prospect that production this year will reach 19.75 million tons, 6 per cent. higher than in 1954, and it is hoped that production in 1956 will be 21 million tons. The stocks of steel held in the United Kingdom by producers, users and merchants were on 30th June, 1955, 4.4 million tons.

Mr. Gower

Can my right hon. Friend say whether that increase may be augmented by further capital developments in the next year or so?

Mr. Thorneycroft

This is not the occasion for me to make a statement on future capital development.

Mr. Stokes

May I ask the President of the Board of Trade what steps he proposes to take to restrain the demands of the National Coal Board, which is taking much more than its fair share of the output of steel, and therefore the rest of industry, particularly the engineering trade, is suffering accordingly?

Mr. Thorneycroft

That raises rather wider questions than the one on the Paper.

42. Mr. Gower

asked the President of the Board of Trade to make a statement about present production and stocks of steel in Wales; and to give an estimate of future prospects.

Mr. P. Thorneycroft

The annual rate of steel production in Wales during the first eleven months of 1955 was 5.9 million tons. Production for the whole of 1955 is expected to be at about this rate, which will be 9 per cent. higher than in 1954, and a further substantial increase is expected next year. The stocks of steel held in Wales by producers, users and merchants, on 30th June, 1955, were 281,000 tons.

Mr. Gower

Can my right hon. Friend say what are the shortages of stocks in different parts of Wales?

Mr. Thorneycroft

Stocks are lower in Wales because steel consumption there is lower than in the rest of the United Kingdom.