§ Mr. Austin Mitchellasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the wage cost of producing a ton of steel in the United Kingdom compared with other European Economic Community countries and the United States of America and Japan.
§ Mr. Norman LamontThe British Steel Corporation's total employment cost of producing a tonne of liquid steel730W was £50 in the financial year 1984–85. Comparable data is not available for the United Kingdom as a whole, for other EC countries, the USA or Japan.
§ Mr. Austin Mitchellasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the ratio of (a) wages and (b) fuel and power to the price of finished steel in the United Kingdom compared with other European Economic Community countries and to the United States of America.
§ Mr. Norman LamontThis information is not readily available.
§ Mr. Austin Mitchellasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what proportion of the cost of making basic iron and steel consists of (a) repayment of capital and interest, (b) depreciation, (c) bought-in materials, (d) other overhead charges including labour overheads and (e) variable labour charges.
§ Mr. Norman LamontThe available information is as follows:
The percentage of BSC costs of iron and steel making accounted for by: 1984–85 per cent. (a) Repayment of long-term loans and interest 7 (b) Depreciation 2 (c) Raw materials and consumables 50 (d) Fuels, utilities, hire charges and carriage costs 15 (e) Wages and salaries and other employment costs 21 (f) Other operating charges 5 Source: British Steel Corporation, Report and Accounts 1984–85.