§ 10. Mr. Palmerasked the Paymaster-General what is the amount of the estimated useful ironstone deposits in the Cleveland iron-ore field; and for how many years these can be expected to last at the average annual rate of consumption since the last war.
§ Mr. RentonThe remaining Cleveland iron-ore deposits are estimated at about 30 million tons. They are comparatively expensive deposits to work, and the annual rate of extraction has fallen from 1.2 million tons immediately after the war to some 600,000 tons over the last three years. Their useful life must depend upon future economic conditions.
§ Mr. PalmerIs the hon. Member prepared to say that my constituents who work so hard in those mines can expect useful employment for a good number of years ahead?
§ Mr. RentonI should not like, without notice, to predict what future production trend is to be planned.