§ Mr. Michael Marshallasked the Secretary of State for Industry what representations he has received from the British Scrap Federation regarding the opportunity for scrap exports and for import substitution; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Les HuckfieldI recently received a deputation from the Federation following its request for an open general export licence for ferrous scrap. We have also received a number of written representations. Exports of ferrous scrap by ECSC countries to third countries are restricted in order to safeguard essential supplies for the domestic steel industries. The United Kingdom's export quota to these countries, hitherto made available only for low-grade scrap, is being increased for the first quarter of 1977 to 90,000 tonnes, of which 15 per cent. may be used for fragmentised scrap. There are no restrictions on exports to Community countries.