§ Mr. Skeet asked the Secretary of State for Industry, if he will identify the strategic metals that are not produced in the United Kingdom and thus have to be imported (a) from either the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics or South Africa or (b) comprise mineral exports of developing countries.
§ Mr. MacGregor:There is no agreed definition of strategic metals. Of those non-fuel metals considered to be 247W critical to the economy, South Africa and USSR are significant suppliers to the United Kingdom of the following:
South Africa: Chromium, manganese, platinum group metals, vanadium and copper. USSR: Chromium, manganese, platinum group metals and vanadium. The United Kingdom imports the following critical metals in significant quantities from developing countries:
Alumina Guinea, Jamaica, Surinam. Bauxite Ghana, Surinam, Indonesia. Chromium Philippines. Cobalt Zaire, Zambia. Copper Zambia, Chile, Peru. Iron Ore Brazil. Lead Peru. Manganese Brazil, Gabon, Ghana. Molybdenum Chile. Niobium Brazil, Nigeria. Tin* Malaysia, Bolivia, Indonesia. Tungsten Bolivia, Thailand. * There is substantial production of tin in the United Kingdom.