§ Mr. Oakesasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what are his present estimates of ferrous and nonferrous metal scrap available in this country for the requirements of British industry.
§ Mr. Anthony GrantThe Government do not maintain records of the availability of scrap metals; but they are aware that there is a strong recovery in the demand for most grades of ferrous and non-ferrous scrap.
§ Mr. Oakesasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what negotiations he has had with the EEC on the extension of the former prohibition on the export of scrap metal without a licence.
§ Mr. Anthony GrantNone. Present export control arrangements are subject to Articles 42 and 43 of the Treaty of Accession.
§ Mr. Oakesasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he has received and from what 113W bodies on the export of ferrous and non-ferrous scrap metal after 1st January 1973 under the EEC arrangements; and what replies he has sent.
§ Mr. Anthony GrantOrganisations and individual enterprises representing consumers, processors and suppliers of ferrous and non-ferrous scrap metal have made numerous representations recently about export controls and these have been taken into consideration by the Government. The Government's decisions were announced in "Trade and Industry" on 28th December 1972 and 11th January 1973.
§ Mr. Oakesasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make representations to revoke Article 135 of the Treaty of Rome to extend the ban on the export of scrap metal to prevent disruption of the British smelting and refining industries.
§ Mr. Anthony GrantNo, but the possibility of invoking Article 135 of the Treaty of Accession will be kept under review.