§ 96. Sir G. Foxasked the Minister of Supply whether he is aware of the serious shortage of the smaller size of mild steel and in particular of angle iron, and that this is holding up the manufacture and repair of agricultural machinery, and what improvements are likely in this field in the near future.
§ Mr. G. R. StraussYes. The basic difficulty arises from a general shortage of billets and from the need to divert supplies in order to increase the output of certain types of wire which are in very short supply. Arrangements are, however, being made to divert additional supplies of small sections to merchants from whom the smaller consumers normally obtain their requirements.