HC Deb 10 November 1947 vol 444 cc12-3W
99. Mr. Janner

asked the Minister of Supply by what date he anticipates the remaining 50 per cent. of the requirements of the Malayan tin producers for new machinery will be supplied to them; and what classes of machinery at present have priority superior to that required by the tin-producing industry.

100 and 104. Wing-Commander Robinson

asked the Minister of Supply (1) what is the principal cause of delay which has resulted in 50 per cent. of the machinery required by the Malayan tin-mining industry not having yet been shipped; how far this is due to inadequate supplies of raw materials or to inadequate priority being given, and what specific steps have now been taken by his Department to expedite deliveries in this case;

(2) whether he has now received details as to the orders for tin mining equipment which have been placed by Malayan tin producing companies with firms in this country; what steps have been taken in each case to take the matter up with the companies concerned and with what result; and whether he will publish an up-to-date list of the present position of these orders.

Mr. G. R. Strauss

Orders for tin mining equipment are placed by the companies direct with the manufacturers and details are sent to my Department. Delays in delivery, which are caused mainly by the increased demand for steel and congestion in the production of castings and components, are reported to us by the mining companies and we take immediate action to discover the cause and to overcome, wherever possible, the individual difficulties. It is not practicable within the scope of Question and Answer to detail the help we have given on many hundreds of items over the past two years. Contracts for this equipment are placed by private firms and it would be inappropriate for me to publish the present position on each outstanding order, but I would point out that of the 50 per cent. still undelivered, by far the larger part is not yet due for delivery under the contracts. Except for items contributing to the expansion of the fuel and power resources of the United Kingdom, no specific priority is given to the production of this or any other class of machinery.