HC Deb 22 February 1962 vol 654 cc82-4W
Mr. Ellis Smith

asked the Minister of Power if he will set out in tabular form the average price of pig iron, Cleveland haematite, north-east coast basic, billets soft basic, angles, rails, ship plates, tin-plate bars, prior to the formation of the trade associations and for the years 1932, 1937, 1938, 1945, 1960, and for the latest date, respectively, showing also the costs of raw materials and labour for the same years.

Mr. George

The information available is given in the following table. 1913 has been taken as the last normal year before the formation of the trade associations. It is difficult to provide exactly comparable figures over so long a period.

COSTS AND PRICES IN THE IRON AND STEEL INDUSTRY, 1913–1961
— 1913 1932 1937 1938 1945 1960 1961 Sources (see note)
£ s. d. £ s. d. £ s. d. £ s. d. £ s. d. £ s. d. £ s. d.
COSTS
Home Iron ore (per ton at mine or quarry) 5 7 4 4 5 0 5 9 4 10 14 0(a) 14 0(a) (i)
Imported Iron ore (per ton c.i.f.). 18 10 18 2 1 2 8 1 8 0 3 12 7 4 17 9 4 18 5 (ii)
Coke (per ton f.o.t. ovens Durham and North East coast) 1 1 0 13 2 1 12 4 1 12 0(b) 2 17 6 8 4 0 8 17 6 (iii)
No. 1 Heavy Scrap (per ton delivered North East coast) 3 0 0 1 15 10 3 7 4 3 9 6 3 12 3 11 5 9 11 5 9
to
3 3 0
Average weekly earnings (c) (per man) 2 10 0(b) 2 14 3 3 12 8 3 11 2 5 12 5 15 18 3 15 11 0 (iv)
PRICES (d) (per ton)
Foundry pig iron No. 3, Class 2 (delivered Middlesbrough area) 2 18 10 2 18 6 5 3 2(e) 5 9 0(e) 6 19 11(e) 21 7 0 22 1 4 (v)
Hematite pig iron (North East local zone—iron produced in the zone) — 3 2 3 6 3 0(f) 6 13 0(f) 7 10 5(f) 24 0 7 24 3 9
Basic pig iron (delivered North East coast) — 2 17 6 5 0 0(g) 5 0 0(g) 6 12 5(g) 20 8 0(h) 20 12 1(h)
Soft basic billets (100 tons lots—tested and guaranteed) — 5 6 1(j) 7 17 6(j) 8 7 6 12 10 0 32 5 6 32 11 11
Angles 7 9 0 8 7 6(k) 11 0 6(k) 11 0 6(k) 15 8 0(k) 38 17 2(l) 38 9 1(l)
Heavy rails (75 lbs. under 90 lbs. per yard) 6 13 0 8 7 6 10 2 6 9 15 6 14 10 0 39 15 0 40 2 11
Ship plates 3/16 in. thick and thicker 7 17 9 8 16 3(k) 11 8 0(k) 11 8 0(k) 16 3 0(k) 41 10 9(m) 40 15 1(m)
Sheet and tinplate bars 5 4 0 4 15 6 7 15 0 7 5 0 12 2 6 32 10 0 32 16 6
(a) Figures are for 1958, the latest year for which published information is available. (b) Estimated.
(c) Figures up to 1938 are annual averages. For 1945 and subsequent years the figures are for a typical week. Changes in the average have been numerous and the figures are not strictly comparable. (d) The prices quoted are on the basis of annual average home trade and should only be regarded as indications of trends in price movements. Exact comparison is not possible due to many charges in the methods of quotation. All prices are delivered except for heavy rails which are f.o.t. from 1938 onwards and foundry pig iron which was f.o.t. for 1913 and 1932.
(e) Rebate of 5s. per ton allowed under certain conditions from 1.11.37 to 31.3.49.
(f) Rebate of 5s. per ton allowed under certain conditions from 1.7.36 to 31.3.49.
(g) Rebate of 5s. per ton allowed under certain conditions from 2.11.33 to 31.3.49.
(h) Includes zone extra. (j) Untested. (k) Rebate of 15s. per ton allowed under certain conditions from 14.1.31 to 31.3.49.
(l) 50 ton lots from 28.11.60—the effect of altering the basis quantity was to reduce the basis price by 15s. per ton.
(m) 50 ton lots from 28.11.60—the effect of altering the basis quantity was to reduce the basis price by 25s. per ton.
SOURCES
(i) Department of Mines and Ministry of Power Statistical Digest. (ii) Trade and Navigation Accounts.
(iii) Iron and Coal Trades Review. (iv) British Iron and Steel Federation Statistical Year Books; Iron and Steel Annual Statistics.
(v) British Iron and Steel Federation Statistical Year Books; Iron and Steel Annual Statistics, 1960; Iron and Steel Board Price Determinations for 1961.