HC Deb 08 July 1968 vol 768 c20W
Mr. Arthur Lewis

asked the Minister of Power what are the latest available figures to compare with the figure for national steel production of 24,315,000 tons in 1966, with coal production of 174.6 million tons, and with 1,483,000 gross tons of shipping under construction in that year.

Mr. Freeson

In 1967 national crude steel production was 23,895,000 tons and production of deep-mined and opencast coal was 172.1 million tons. My right hon. Friend the Minister of Technology informs me that there were 1,096 thousand gross tons of merchant shipping (vessels of 100 gross tons and over) under construction at the end of 1967 compared with 1,363 thousand gross tons at the end of 1966.