125. Mr. Dugdaleasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what steps he is taking to renew the contract for bulk purchase of wolfram in Uganda in view of the threat to the industry from the fall in the world price and the burden of the industry's mechanisation programme.
§ Mr.Walker-SmithI have been asked to reply.
I regret we cannot see our way to renew these contracts which expire in September. The situation has changed radically since the contracts were placed at the end of 1952. Tungsten ores are in ample supply and the price has fallen greatly in consequence.