§ Mr Skeetasked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will list the commercial and industrial uses of platinum, the quantity used annually in the United Kingdom and the sources of supply; what is the annual world production of platinum; what is the percentage mined in South Africa and the Warsaw Pact countries, respectively; and to what extent (a) exhaust emission converters for 643W motor vehicles and (b) defence requirements have increased the use of the metal.
§ Mr. David MitchellThe main uses of the platinum group of metals in the United Kingdom are:
- Chemical catalytic processes,
- Electrical contacts,
- Petroleum refining catalytic processes,
- Scientific and laboratory equipment including electrodes,
- Glass-fibre production and glass processing,
- Thermocouples,
- Dental applications,
- Pen nib alloys,
- Jewellery and decorative applications.
The precise quantity of platinum group metals used annually in the United Kingdom is unknown, but in 1978 consumption was estimated at about 11 tonnes including recycled scrap. The United Kingdom's main source of supply are South Africa, Canada and the United States of America.
World mine production of the platinum group of metals was estimated to be 200 tonnes in 1978, of which the Republic of South Africa and the USSR were estimated to have accounted for 46 and 47 per cent. respectively. The introduction of exhaust emission converters for motor vehicles has had a substantial impact on demand for platinum group metals in the United States and Japan only. Their use is not required in the United Kingdom.
Questions about platinum demand arising from defence requirements are for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence.