§ Mr. Sharpasked the Minister of Supply (1) what was the total production of rolling-mill products, showing separately that of bars and rods, during each of the first three quarters of 1947; and what amounts were retained for use in the United Kingdom, showing separately that allocated for the production of machine tools;
(2) what reduction in iron and steel allocations to the machine-tool industry
DELIVERIES OF FINISHED STEEL. Product Period I 1947. Period II 1947. Period III 1947. Tons Tons Tons Heavy rails and accessories … … … … 94,615 104,502 95,975 Plates … … … … 328,839 395,948 407,424 Other heavy steel products … … … … 249,108 311,141 283,361 Light rolled products … … … … 284,983 302,237 286,938 Ferro-concrete bars … … … … 30,435 41,274 41,885 Cold rolled strip … … … … 48,185 53,183 49,549 Bright steel bars … … … … 33,910 39,398 39,284 Sheet (other than stainless) … … … … 272,941 300,228 256,059 Tinplate etc. … … … … 150,449 164,984 147,565 Apart from the figures shown for ferroconcrete bars and bright steel bars there are no statistics showing separately deliveries of bars and rods.
EXPORTS OF FINISHED STEEL. Product Period I 1947. Period II 1947. Period III 1947. Tons Tons Tons Heavy rails and accessories … 20,866 30,859 21,480 Plates … 29,800 28,192 19,057 Other heavy steel products … 19,600 21,595 11,477 Light rolled products (including ferro-concrete bars) … 17,340 27,229 20,966 Cold rolled strip … 3,189 3,842 2,082 Bright steel Bars … 1,885 1,610 1,163 Sheets … 8,656 10,592 7,151 Tinplate … 25,250 30,433 24,797 I regret that I cannot give details of the steel allocations made, or to be made, to individual industries. I can only assure my hon. Friend that in allotting steel full weight is given to the claims of the machine tool industry.
118Wwere made during periods 2, 3 and 4 of 1947; and what is the provisional allocation for periods 1 and 2 of 1948;
(3) what increase in the allocation of bars and rods has been made or will be made to machine-tool makers to permit the proposed Board of Trade increase in exports.
§ Mr. G. R. StraussThe following table gives details of direct deliveries to consumers of the main classes of rolling-mill products in the first three quarters of 1947:
The following table gives the direct exports of the above classes of steel during the same periods: