HC Deb 13 April 1984 vol 58 cc461-2W
Mr. Skeet

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much tungsten is used in the United Kingdom as (a) cemented carbides, (b) tool steel, (c) tungsten metal and (d) miscellaneous; and if he will list the higher-user industries.

Mr. Trippier

Total United Kingdom consumption of tungsten for the latest available full year, 1982, was 367 tonnes. Unfortunately statistics are not available to subdivide this figure into the categories you requested. The main higher-user industries in the United Kingdom are those concerned with cemented carbide tooling and mineral mining, especially that of coal.

Mr. Skeet

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what sources of tungsten are available to the United Kingdom outside the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, China and North Korea (a) in stable economies and (b) in developing states.

Mr. Trippier

The following countries, other than those that my hon. Friend specifies, produce tunsten ores and concentrates which would be available to the United KingdomAustralia, Bolivia, Brazil, Burundi, Burma, Canada, Czechoslovakia, France, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, Namibia, New Zealand, Peru, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Rwanda, Spain, Sweden, Thailand, Turkey, Uganda, United States, Zaire and Zimbabwe.