§ 66. Sir E. Boyleasked the Minister of Supply if he will make a statement on the shortage of nickel, and especially of nickel anodes.
§ Mr. G. R. StraussI would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for Stechford (Mr. Jenkins) on 7th December. Nickel anodes normally take about 20 per cent. of the nickel consumed in this country and the balance goes into a wide variety of uses in the form of special steels and nonferrous alloys. I am investigating with the firms concerned the position regarding the supply of anodes, but I am advised that the present supply is well above the level of 1949, though it is less than in the first half of 1950.