§ Captain BOWYERasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Munitions whether he is aware that only low-grade basic slag is allowed to be sent to South-East Scotland, while high-grade slag is sent to Ireland; that a higher price is being charged in Scotland for the low grade than in Ireland for the high grade; whether he will explain the calculations on which these prices are based; and whether steps can be taken to adjust the quality and prices of slag in Scotland?
§ Mr. MUNROI have been asked to reply to this question, as the control of the distribution of slag was handed over to the Departments of Agriculture following the issue of the Fertilisers Prices Order, 1918. That Order fixed maximum prices of basic slag for the year ending 31st May, 1919, and I am sending the hon. and gallant Member a copy. The prices and the basis on which they are calculated are shown in the Third Schedule to the Order. As, according to my information, the maximum prices are those generally charged, I think the hon. and gallant Member must be misinformed as regards the second part of the question. The position as to distribution is that practically the whole of the Irish supplies had to be drawn from Great 2551W Britain; and as transport difficulties between the Irish ports and the slag works were extremely acute at the time when contracts were being made, it was agreed to release a large proportion of the quota of supplies for Ireland in high grade slag—thus considerably reducing tonnage. The slag works in Scotland could not produce the full quota for Scotland, and the balance had to be drawn from England. Most of the high-grade slag from England, again owing to difficulties to transport, had to be shipped to Aberdeen, and the Southern parts of Scotland were largely dependent on the lower-grade slag available from the Scottish works. Since the signing of the Armistice, however, arrangements have been made to distribute over the Southern and Midland counties of Scotland (in addition to the extreme Northern counties) a higher grade of slag from English works. I may add that the average quality of the total slag drawn from England into Scotland will be, if anything, higher than that of the slag forwarded to Ireland.