§ Miss Boothroydasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what information he has as to the level of increases in prices of (a) steel scrap, (b) cylinder iron and (c) pig iron for each of the last five years for which records are available.
§ Mr. ButcherI have the following information on the price of scrap metal which is derived from the publication "Metal Bulletin".
Ferrous scrap price movements (OA grade) Average price £ per tonne Index 1979 5 January 46–50 100.0 6 April 57 122.6 6 July 52 111.85 5 October 51 109.7 1980 4 January 47–50 102.2 3 April 46 98.8 4 July 37 79.6 3 October 32 68.8 1981 9 January 30 64.5 3 April 32 68.8 3 July 32 68.8 2 October 31 66.7 1982 8 January 40 86.0 2 April 43–50 93.5 2 July 33 71.0 1 October 25 53.8 1983 7 January 27–50 59.1 8 April 40–50 87.1 1 July 40–50 87.1 7 October 46 98.9 1984 6 January 57–50 123.7 6 April 55 118.3 6 July 64 137.6 5 October 70 150.5 1985 4 January 69 148.4 8 March 86–50 186.0 I have no information on cylinder iron and pig iron.