§ Mr. Willeyasked the First Lord of the Admiralty why the supplies of steel to Messrs. William Doxford and Sons, Sunderland, are 16,000 tons compared with the average of 21,500 tons in 1947–50 under the previous system of steel allocation; and when it is expected that the level of 21,500 tons will again be reached.
§ Mr. J. P. L. ThomasExpressed as an annual rate and taking into account certain changes in the allocation system which were introduced when steel allocations were resumed in 1952, the current allocations of steel to Messrs. William Doxford & Sons, Ltd., Sunderland, for all purposes, that is for merchant ship construction, marine engines and merchant ship repairs, are very slightly greater than the average allocations made to the firm for the same purposes over the years 1947 to 1949. Steel allocations were discontinued in the early months of 1950.
Messrs. Doxford's allocations represent their fair share of the amount of steel made available for merchant shipbuilding, marine engines and merchant ship repairs during the periods in question.