HC Deb 16 November 1939 vol 353 c834W
Mr. A. Edwards

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has any information as to the quantities of aluminium imported by Germany and Great Britain, respectively from Switzerland and Norway since the outbreak of war and the corresponding figures for the previous 12 months, and as to the quantity of natural corundum exported from all parts of South Africa in the 12 months prior to the war and the corresponding figures since the outbreak of war and the destination of the same?

Mr. Stanley

During the 12 months ended July, 1939, the quantity of crude and semi-manufactured aluminium imported into Germany, including Austria and Czechoslovakia, from Norway and Switzerland amounted to about 1,790 tons and 3,850 tons, respectively. The imports of aluminium and aluminium alloys, other than finished manufactures, imported into the United Kingdom during the 12 months ended August, 1939, registered as consigned from Norway and Switzerland were r,882 tons and 17,904 tons respectively. No information for any period later than July, 1939, is available from German official sources, and I do not consider it desirable to publish particulars of the imports of aluminium into the United Kingdom since the outbreak of war.

The quantity of corundum exported from the Union of South Africa during the 12 months ended June, 1939, the latest period for which statistics are available, was 1,939 tons. Details of countries of consignment are not available but in the year 1938, 90 per cent. of the total exports were consigned to the United States, 6½ per cent. to the United Kingdom and 3! per cent. to Germany.