HC Deb 14 June 1971 vol 819 cc25-6
29. Mr. Hardy

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what, according to information available to him from international sources, is the most recent price per ton charged for cold rolled coil steel in West Germany, France, the Netherlands, the United States of America and Japan.

Sir J. Eden

Published home trade prices are respectively: £75.05: £76.10: £67.10: £88.50: £51.20. Actual prices may, however, differ from these. Except from Japan these prices include an element for the average cost of delivery.

Mr. Hardy

Does the Minister agree that those figures suggest that the Corporation's position concerning the product mentioned in the Question is very competitive? Its competitiveness in other products is even greater. Would he therefore provide for its competitiveness to be maintained by giving early encouragement to the future development of the steel industry and by giving adequate and early assurances about the rather restrictive regulations of the Coal and Steel Community?

Sir J. Eden

The last point was fully covered at Question Time the other day. As the hon. Gentleman knows, we have promised to make statements as soon as they are ready on the subject of the future of the industry.

Mr. Michael Foot

Were these figures available to the Prime Minister and the Cabinet when they decided to make their intervention about the Corporation's prices a few weeks ago? Do not the figures show that the Prime Minister's statement that the Corporation's claim was unjustified was false?

Sir J. Eden

Consideration of the Corporation's original price proposals the other day concerned the level of consumer products in this country. It was that aspect at which we had to look most closely.

Mr. Foot

Is the Minister admitting that the Corporation's prices are considerably lower than those being charged on the Continent of Europe? Should not that matter have been taken into account when the Corporation asked for the right to charge what it thought was a proper price?

Sir J. Eden

The allocation of prices between particular products is a matter for the Corporation, and no doubt, in making its proposals, it took into account the level of its competitors' prices.