§ 29. Mr. G. R. Straussasked the Minister of Supply what directions have been given by him under the Iron and Steel Act, 1953, to the Iron and Steel Board to prevent iron and steel companies participating in price rings, such as the recent identical quotations to various local authorities for the delivery and erection of structural steel.
§ The Minister of Supply (Mr. Reginald Maudling)None, Sir. As regards structural steel, I would refer the right hon. Gentleman to the reply given to the hon. Member for Stockton-on-Tees (Mr. Chetwynd) on 20th June.
§ Mr. StraussIs the Minister aware that these identical quotations contain items for delivery and erection of structural steel? If the Minister is not taking any action, does that not mean that he is giving silent approval to this practice of identical quotations to local authorities?
§ Mr. MaudlingThe supply of structural steel for buildings is not within the responsibility of the Iron and Steel Board and is being investigated by the Monopolies Commission, which is the right way to do it.
§ Mr. StraussWould the Minister agree that it was within the responsibility of the old Iron and Steel Corporation?
§ Mr. MaudlingI would be very loth to agree with that. I do not think it was so.
§ Mr. ChetwyndDoes the right hon. Gentleman recall that under nationalisation the Tory Minister was able to intervene to put up prices of steel against the advice of the chairman of the nationalised board? If the Government could intervene then to put up prices, why are they so reluctant to intervene now to keep them down?
§ Mr. MaudlingThe prices of steel products which come under the Iron and Steel Board are fixed by the independent statutory body at a reasonable level, and a level which is much below the levels of competing countries. As to the position under nationalisation, I find it hard to believe, even if he had the power, that a Minister would order different units of the nationalised industry to quote different prices for identical products.