HC Deb 05 March 1953 vol 512 cc70-1W
Mr. Russell

asked the Minister of Materials to publish a statement showing the quantity and value of all materials,

MATERIALS PURCHASED FROM OVERSEAS BY THE MINISTRY OF MATERIALS (a)
— 1951 1952
Purchases Arrivals (b) Purchases Arrivals (b)
Quantity Value (f.o.b) Quantity Value (f.o.b.)
Tons '000 £'000 Tons '000 Tons '000 £'000 Tons '000
Aluminium 183.9 21,222 172.6 232.7 34,041 241.9
Copper, Blister and Electrolytic (c) 338.5 71,754 352.3 347.0 83,376 382.3
Lead (d) 192.1 29,437 170.3 62.1 9,551 123.3
Zinc (e) 135.9 22,641 120.9 225.2 32,557 224.9
Chrome Ore (f) 7.2 57 7.2 — — —
Other non-ferrous metals (g) 5.0 4,645 4.8 10.5 11,208 10.1
Timber (h) 2,334.3 51,724 2,391.8 1,248.6 37,936 1,351.5
Raw Materials for Textiles 216.6 49,725 214.3 154.0 24,032 144.0
Materials for Fertilisers and for the manufacture of Sulphuric Acid (i) 2,363.9 17,528 2,336.9 1,462.2 10,209 1,479.5
5,777.4 268,733 5,771.1 3,742.3 242,910 3,957.5
(a) The figures for the year 1951 include purchases by the Board of Trade and the Ministry of Supply of goods which, since July, 1951, have been the responsibility of the Ministry of Materials. Purchases for strategic reserve are excluded throughout.
(b) Arrivals include some items ordered previous to the year for which they are shown.
(c) Excluding refined copper returned from toll refining overseas of Ministry copper and copper scrap.
(d) The figures for 1952 allow for adjustments made in contracts as part of the termination of public trading. Lead reverted to private trade on 1st October, 1952.
(e) Zinc reverted to private trade as from January, 1953.
(f) Chrome ore reverted to private trade on 21st November, 1950.
(g) These figures relate to purchases of magnesium and tungsten which were brought on to Government purchase from May and July, 1951, respectively.
(h) Softwood reverted to private trade partly in January, 1951, and wholly in January, 1952. Hardwood reverted to private trade in January, 1950. Plywood reverted to private trade partly in May, 1950, and wholly in January, 1953. Pitwood reverted to private trade partly in January, 1951, and wholly in July, 1951.
(i) Fertiliser materials reverted to private trade in July, 1952.