§ Mr. Eggarasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry on what terms he proposes that the disposal of the strategic mineral stockpile should be effected.
§ Mr. TrippierIt has been decided to sell materials representing about one quarter of the contents of the stockpile in the course of the financial year.
The material will be offered for sale on open tender. If bids are otherwise equal in all respects, preference in disposal will be given to those involved in setting up the stockpile, namely companies on whose behalf the material was purchased, and suppliers of the material. No price preference will be given, however. In addition it is intended that the material should be disposed of in such a way as to cause the least possible disruption of the market and to retain for as long as is feasible a balanced stock of strategic minerals.
If user industries were to put forward a proposal to finance the stockpile themselves, the Department of Trade and Industry would be glad to discuss the sale of the stockpile to them.