§ 1. Mr. K. Lewisasked the Minister of Power if he will state the cost of importing iron ore from abroad into the United Kingdom from January to September, 1960, compared with the same period in 1959; and from which countries these imports were secured.
| THE COST AND MAIN SOURCES OF SUPPLY OF IRON ORE IMPORTED INTO THE UNITED KINGDOM IN THE TWO PERIODS MENTIONED WERE:— | |||||||||
| January to September, 1959 | January to September, 1960 | ||||||||
| Tons | £ (c.i.f.) | Tons | £ (c.i.f.) | ||||||
| Sweden | … | … | … | … | 2,312,939 | 13,269,723 | 3,590,218 | 18,721,883 | |
| Canada | … | … | … | … | 1,787,581 | 8,910,014 | 2,506,406 | 12,127,917 | |
| Algeria | … | … | … | … | 1,044,382 | 5,471,360 | 1,554,523 | 6,953,081 | |
| Venezuela | … | … | … | … | 905,875 | 5,332,942 | 1,216,965 | 6,959,642 | |
| Brazil | … | … | … | … | … | 410,392 | 2,992,787 | 450,343 | 3,075,361 |
| Sierra Leone | … | … | … | … | 510,336 | 2,250,765 | 565,744 | 2,509,798 | |
| Others* | … | … | … | … | 2,303,516 | 10,733,437 | 3,685,358 | 16,227,920 | |
| Total | … | … | … | 9,275,021 | 48,961,028 | 13,569,557 | 66,575,602 | ||
| * Includes Norway, France, Portugal, Spain, French West Africa, Tunisia, Morocco, Liberia, and other Commonwealth and foreign countries not listed. |
§ 24. Mr. Martenasked the Minister of Power what plans the Iron and Steel Board has for the maintenance of reasonably adequate reserves of home iron ore for use by the South Wales steel industry.
§ The Minister of Power (Mr. Richard Wood)The industry in South Wales would normally draw its main supplies of home ore from the Oxfordshire and South West Northamptonshire fields. It is impossible to forecast technical and economic developments into the distant future. But the Iron and Steel Board estimates, in the light of its
§ The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Power (Mr. J. C. George)As the answer consists of a table of figures, I will, with permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Mr. LewisWhile thanking the Minister for that reply, may I ask him whether he is aware that there is some suggestion of increased iron ore mining in the Stamford area of Lincolnshire? In view of the Government's declared policy to increase trading amongst the Outer Seven, does he not think that it would be more in keeping with that policy if we increased the importation of iron ore, thus helping those countries to buy from us? Would not this save the countryside and promote exports?
§ Mr. GeorgeThe hon. Member's Question asks for certain facts and he will have these facts in the Official Report. The other matters which he has raised relate to a totally different Question.
§ Following is the information:
§ present knowledge, that the reserves in these fields would meet the demands of the industry in South Wales and elsewhere for some fifty to sixty years.
§ Mr. MartenWill the Minister take steps to see that the iron and steel industry uses the maximum amount of imported ore in order to keep this as a reserve for a rainy day? Does not he agree that the importing of iron ore will regenerate world trade and also be a great help to British shipping? Will he bring these factors to the attention of the Iron and Steel Board?
§ Mr. WoodThese issues have been in front of the inquiry of which my hon. Friend will be aware, and the decision will be reached in the light of those and other matters.
§ Mr. J. GriffithsI commend the suggestion that it might be advisable to import such ore and keep it for a rainy day, but do not the same facts and the same reasons apply in the case of coal and oil?