HC Deb 20 May 1976 vol 911 cc704-7W
Mr. Sillars

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will provide an estimate of the increased costs incurred by Scottish steel users since the British Steel Corporation adopted the pricing point policy of the EEC.

Mr. Les Huckfield

The ECSC basing point system has costs and benefits for Scottish steel consumers. An estimate of its overall effect is not possible.

Mr. Sillars

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what range of steel products bought by Scottish steel users have a Scottish pricing point; and which products have pricing points in other areas of the United Kingdom.

Mr. Les Huckfield

BSC products from within the product groups tabulated below are sold from the base points marked "X".

Glasgow Hawarden Bridge Manchester Middles-borough Newport Scunthorpe Sheffield Stanton Stoke Workington York Borrow
Non-Alloy Bars x
Pig Iron x x
Non-Alloy Billets, Blooms, Slabs x
Non-Alloy Flats:
Bright Drawing x
Others x x
Non-Alloy Wire Rod x
Rebar x
Heavy Sections x x x x x
Light Sections x x x
Piling x
Heavy Rails x x x
Fishplates x
Sleepers x
Light Rails x
Bridge Rails x x x
Heavy Plates:
Non-Alloy x x x
Alloy x
Non-Alloy HR Strip:
Sheared edge x
Mill edge up to 64mm. x
CR Coil and lengths x x x
HR Coil and lengths x x x x
Coated Sheets x x
Electrical Steels x
Forging Ingots x
Alloy-Spring Stainless Billets x
Alloy Bars x x
Spring Bars x
Stainless Bars x x
Alloy/Stainless Rod x
Alloy Strip x
Stainless Plate and Sheet x x
Tube Rounds x
The table gives product groups: not all specifications within a product group are necessarily available from each basing point.
Scottish private sector producers sell plate from a Glasgow base point and sections from Coatbridge.
Details of United Kingdom private sector production are available in the booklet "Member Companies and their Products" published by the British Independent Steel Producers Association.