asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he is aware that in or about July explosives used by Stewarts and Lloyds, Limited, caused damage to property and risk of injury to persons in Stephenson Way, Corby, and that Weldon Parish Council have cause to complain to that company about noise and damage from blasting at night; and what steps he will take to supervise blasting in the company's ironstone quarries near houses.

My responsibility in connection with blasting at quarries is limited to securing the safety and health of the persons employed, but the rules that have been made for that purpose also provide that

"where danger from blasting may arise to the public, efficient means shall be taken to give them due warning."

My inspectors report that this requirement is complied with at the ironstone quarry near Stephenson Way, Corby. I have no powers or responsibility in respect of noise or damage to property resulting from the blasting at these quarries.

Will my right hon. Friend look into the circumstances not only at Stephenson Way, but also at Weldon, and will he consider how effective warning can be given to the inhabitants of Weldon when they are sleeping in their beds at night, or how damage can be avoided to church windows when the church is empty?

According to my inspectors' report, adequate warning was provided, but I will certainly look into the point about Weldon which my hon. and learned Friend has mentioned.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether in view of the fact that the South-Western Area Gas Board has felt obliged to refund the increases made in its charges for gas, and to discontinue all increases proposed in its notice dated 27th June, 1949, and is therefore unable to earn revenue adequate to fulfil its duty under Section 41 of the Gas Act, 1948, he has consulted the Treasury with a view to giving his consent to further temporary borrowing by the board under Section 42 of that Act.

I see no reason why the South-Western Area Gas Board should be unable to earn revenue adequate to fulfil its duty under Section 41 of the Gas Act, 1948. But as regards temporary borrowing, I have recently received an application from the Gas Council seeking authority for this in order to meet the needs of all the area boards in respect of capital expenditure and additional working capital. This application is now the subject of consultation with the Treasury.

Will the Minister give directions to the area gas board to see that the consumers of 1950 are not surcharged for the error of the board in sending out their charges for consumption in 1949?

No, Sir. I should certainly not regard it as part of my duty to give directions to an area gas board on a matter of this kind.

Does the reply of the Minister mean that, where refunds have been made and there is a short-fall and the right hon. Gentleman has not allowed additional borrowing, those refunds will again be recovered retrospectively?

The hon. Member has asked me a series of hypothetical questions which it is quite impossible to answer, and I do not intend to answer them.

Whose business is it to watch these matters? My hon. Friend has been very active on behalf of his own constituents, but surely there must be some authority which maintains an oversight?

It would be better if the right hon. and gallant Gentleman were to await my replies to the two further Questions which the hon. Member for Bath (Mr. Pitman) has on the Order Paper.

Why is the Minister so very reluctant to protect the consumer against these errors?

I do not consider that the consumer needs any protection in these matters.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power (1) whether, in view of the wide divergencies among the forms of notice by area gas boards in publishing fresh tariffs under the terms of Section 53 of the Gas Act, 1948, he will make a statement on the consultations he has had with the Gas Council with a view to giving a general direction to area boards on the framing of new tariffs;

(2) whether he is aware that the majority of demands for payment of gas supplied by area boards under new tariffs published by them since 1st May, 1949, are unenforceable and may remain unpaid; and what steps he proposes in order to minimise the financial deficiencies which will result.

I do not at all accept the hon. Member's assertion that the majority of demands for payment by area gas boards under new tariffs are unenforceable. One area gas board—the South Western—has withdrawn notices issued at the end of June and is proposing to issue revised notices because of a doubt as to whether the original ones were in a form to comply with Section 53 of the Gas Act, 1948.

Under this Section, the framing and publication of tariffs is entirely a matter for the area gas boards who are also responsible for safeguarding their own financial position. A divergence in the form of notice among the different areas is not necessarily to be deprecated and I do not propose to issue any general directions on this matter.

Is the Minister aware that the notices for the tariffs sent out seemed to indicate that every area board in the country has at least some tariffs which are subject to doubt, and, that being so, that the nation really needs a clarification of the issue in regard to the validity of the accounts which have been rendered for gas?

I really cannot accept the hon. Member's assumption. The question whether or not the notices are in accordance with the Act is a legal one and not one on which it is my business to advise the boards.

Is the right hon. Gentleman prepared to accept later from me and to give me an answer, which may be published to the House, specific examples in regard to every area which I can furnish him?

This is entirely a matter for the gas boards themselves. It is their business to seek the necessary legal advice to ensure that they comply with the Act. It is not my business to tell them how they should do that, or to interpret the Act myself.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the chairman of the South Western Board said that the legal position is uncertain, and that, by his own confession, he is anxious to have guidance?

No, Sir. He has not asked me for guidance anyway.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether, since this matter has arisen, he has consulted with the other boards to ensure that their tariffs are legal, and can he give an assurance to the House that in all areas other than the South Western the tariffs put out are valid?

No, Sir. I have not consulted with the other area gas boards.

Does the right hon. Gentleman not consider that he has a duty placed upon him to protect the interests of the consumers in this matter?

I cannot agree that the interests of consumers are threatened in this matter. It is purely a legal point.

Will the right hon. Gentleman recommend that a commission be appointed to inquire into the whole position in order to see what is legal and what is not?

If the right hon. Gentleman will not accept from me by private letter specific cases where the notices are illegal and payment may be withheld and act, how can he assure the House that he is not interested in the Question? Surely the question of the legality of these charges is of interest to him and is it not fundamental to the whole question?

I am afraid I find that supplementary question far too involved to answer.

Is it not about time that someone took legal advice instead of asking the Minister for it?

Will the right hon. Gentleman say whether he has or has not a duty to protect the consumers' interests?

Certainly, I regard it as part of my duty to protect the consumers' interests, but not my duty to give legal advice to the gas boards.

Has there not been a great deal of unfinished thought about this?

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether the coal ordered by consumers in the Manchester area is now screened and washed before delivery.

Not all consumers specify screened or washed coals in their requirements. I am informed by the National Coal Board that coal for the domestic consumer and large coal for industry is screened and, in general, hand cleaned; that graded coal for industry is screened and the bulk of this is also washed; and that a substantial tonnage of untreated small coal is used in power stations and also in industry.

Why are the National Coal Board allowed to charge top coal prices for the mixture of coal, rock and filth which is still being delivered to domestic consumers in the Manchester area?

The hon. and gallant Member is making serious allegations. I am always ready to look into individual instances, if he will give particulars, but general allegations of this kind are not very helpful.

asked the Minister of Fuel and power if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the 41 Club at Southampton has been refused supplementary petrol for the purpose of conveying sufferers from poliomyelitis to entertainments provided for them; and if he will give instructions that the supplementary petrol should be issued for this purpose.

Regional petroleum officers already have discretion to grant small block allowances of supplementary petrol to appropriate organisations for taking permanently crippled or blind persons to Christmas parties or annual outings, or on similar special occasions. I regret that in present circumstances I am not prepared to extend this arrangement.

asked the Minister of Food if he has any statement to make regarding extra food rations available to the housewife for Christmas.

Yes, Sir. We have made a special allocation to bakers of the ingredients for making cakes and sweet biscuits. Supplies of turkeys should be rather better than last year and there should be appreciably more of other types of poultry. There will be rather more Christmas puddings and about the same quantity of dried fruit as last year. Supplies of mincemeat, candied peel, crystallised fruit, and so on will be slightly better than last Christmas, and there will be good supplies of wines and spirits except whisky, which is a vital dollar export. There will be rather more apples and oranges than last year and plenty of tangerines and other fruit.

What about nuts?

I am glad to tell the hon. Member that there will be plenty of those.

In regard to rationed food we shall be able to issue an extra 6 oz. of sweets during the four weeks beginning 4th December, making the ration for the Christmas period 22 oz. We can also issue an extra 4 oz. of cooking fat during the Christmas ration period. That may seem a short list of Christmas bonuses. However, I am glad to be able to tell the House that our stocks and supplies of tea and bacon are large enough to make possible an increase in the regular weekly ration, which I am sure will be much preferred to an extra Christmas bonus.

The tea ration will be increased to 2½ oz. a week on 4th December. It will be issued at the rate of 3 oz. a week and 2 oz. a week in alternate months, and December will be the first 3 oz. month. The bacon ration will be increased to 4 oz. a week on 20th November. This increased rate should be maintained for some time. But the House must not assume that it will necessarily be possible to retain it through the whole of 1950. As I have often explained to the House, the bacon ration must vary frequently with fluctuations in the supply, since it is undesirable to keep bacon for more than a few weeks even in cold stores.

While thanking my right hon. Friend for that reply, may I ask him whether he is aware that this practical evidence of the nation's recovery under the Labour Government is widely recognised in the country?

It may not be out of place to ask the Minister whether he does not agree that all things considered, politically and otherwise, this is really the funniest answer we have had in the last five years?

Will my right hon. Friend consider increasing the fat ration to housewives, in view of the popularity of fish and chips?

My hon. Friend perhaps did not notice that that is what we have done.

Why is there to be no increase in the meat ration, particularly pork, since many workers are unable to buy turkeys?

We undoubtedly have considerable stocks of meat, but I cannot make a statement at present because there are questions of supply of which the House is probably aware.

In view of that long and substantial list of increases of rations, can my right hon. Friend consider very seriously including an additional ration of sugar, because it is in very short supply?

No, Sir. We cannot do that because we have already purchased the whole of the sterling and non-dollar supplies of sugar. Any further supplies would cost us dollars, which we cannot afford.

asked the Minister of Food what profit margin is allowed on rationed meat to retail butchers; and what changes to meet extra expenses have been permitted since the margin was originally fixed.

The retail butchers' margin is designed to allow for variations in turnover and expenses, and to yield a reasonable net profit over the whole field of the trade's activities. Costings investigations into the actual profits earned by representative cross-sections of the trade are made from time to time, and wholesale prices adjusted by surcharges or rebates in order to leave the net margin at a reasonable level. The total net margin earned by the retail trade before the war is estimated at £12 million per annum. On the present ration of 1s. 4d. the total net margin is calculated to amount to £16¼ million per annum.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that a profit margin of 22½ per cent. was calculated in 1939, since when there has been a great increase in expenses? The present profit margin works out at about 17½ per cent. which is too low to allow in the case of many small retailers, a proper or reasonable standard of life.

I could not agree with the hon. and gallant Gentleman.

Will the Minister say what he thinks will be a fair profit for this trade?

I think that this is by no means an unfair profit.

Could not the Minister state the actual margin of gross profit allowed by his Department at present?

I have stated the total amount and the cross-sections of the trade upon which it is based. Any other answer would be misleading.

asked the Minister of Food what was the average percentage profit made by his Department on sago flour imported from Malaya during the 12 months ended September, 1949.

We made a profit of about 16 per cent. in 1949; this profit is used to keep down the prices of other starches.

Will the Minister give it in plain figures, because that would help to allay the very reasonable sense of grievance of the sago flour exporters of Malaya?

Perhaps the hon. Member will put down a Question on any further point which he has in mind.

Can the Minister explain why it is in the public interest to disclose these figures when there is a profit and not to disclose figures when there is a loss.

I frequently disclose the fact that most of our food imports are heavily subsidised to the consumer and that therefore there is a loss on them.

asked the Minister of Food how the current supply of fish meal for animal feeding compares with the prewar supply; and what action he is taking to ensure an increased supply of this feedingstuff needed to balance cereals now more freely available for pig and poultry feeding.

Home production of fish meal for animal feeding in the first nine months of this year was about 42,000 tons, which is nearly 3,000 tons more than in the same period last year. Production before the war was about 70,000 tons in a full year. All the fish waste possible is being used for fish meal.

Is the Minister aware that the supply of proteins such as fish meal has now become the crux of the feeding-stuffs problem, and that if he wishes to maintain the bacon ration at 4 oz he will have to find more fish meal and other proteins?

I agree that fish meal is of great importance and production is steadily rising towards the pre-war level.

Does not the Minister realise that he could have increased this production if he had insisted on white fish being landed with heads on instead of with heads off?

As the House is aware, the control of fish will come to an end in the spring, and the economic price should then induce the landing of fish with heads on.

Why has so small a proportion of the herring catches been used for this purpose? If herring have to be exported, surely it would be better to use more for this purpose?

I do not think that we could prohibit the export trade in klondyked and other processed herring, which is a traditional and important export of this country.

asked the Minister of Food when the people of London may expect to receive the 6d. meat bonus now seven weeks overdue.

I understand that the Committee of Investigation hope to submit their report to my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour and National Service in the course of today.

asked the Minister of Food if he will inform the House of the arrangements made by his Department for the import of pressed beef from Ireland; what quantity has already been placed upon the market in Great Britain; and at what price.

Pressed beef is imported from the Republic of Ireland by private traders under individual import licence. Licences are not required for imports from Northern Ireland. Licences have been issued for 60 tons, but I understand that only a small quantity has arrived. The present maximum permitted retail price is 3s. a pound.

Is it the policy of the Ministry to encourage this export of pressed beef from Ireland?

Certainly, Sir. It is undertaken by private traders, but we have never discouraged it.

asked the Minister of Food (1) how many tons of edible tallow of all grades were imported in the period 1st January, 1949, to 1st October; how much was later resold for non-edible purposes; and what were the purchase and re-selling prices;

(2) how many tons of edible tallow of all grades have been imported since 1st January, 1949; what were the countries of origin; how much has been bought since devaluation; and where these purchases were made.

Eleven thousand seven hundred and seventy-seven tons of edible tallow were imported between 1st January and 30th September, 1949, the latest available date, from New Zealand, Australia, Argentina and Uruguay. Since devaluation my Department has signed new contracts with Australia and New Zealand for one year from 1st October continuing the arrangements under which we buy the whole of their exportable surplus of tallow. So far this year no edible tallow has been sold for non-edible uses, but any tallow not fit for edible use would be sold at my Department's published selling prices for technical tallow. I am not prepared to disclose the purchase prices of particular consignments.

Does the right hon. Gentleman's answer mean that the 1,500 tons of edible tallow imported from the Argentine in February has not yet been disposed of, or has been found to have gone rancid, and what is the loss expected to be?

I could not agree that that particular consignment has gone rancid. Some may be used for technical purposes.

What did the right hon. Gentleman mean when he told me on 7th November that the price had been changed, because there would be no loss on the re-sale? Surely if the price is reduced, there must be a loss on re-sale?

I am afraid I have not followed the last point made by the hon. Member. Perhaps he will put down a Question on it.

How much has gone rancid?

None has gone rancid at present. Some may be used for soap making rather than for the fat ration or for lard, but that process is one which goes on every year.

Does the Minister, then, deny that fat which has gone rancid has been offered to soap makers who say that they can do nothing with it?

No, Sir. Tallow which is no longer fit on arrival for edible uses may be used for non-edible uses.

asked the Minister of Food what was the cause of the deterioration of edible mutton tallow from New Zealand during the summer; how much was involved; what has now become of it; and what was the purchase and selling price of it.

The arrival from New Zealand of some edible mutton tallow of low keeping quality coincided with peak supplies of home-produced animal fat, when the use of imported tallow is seasonally low. So far 463 tons of mutton tallow from New Zealand have been set aside and will be offered for technical purposes at the Ministry's published prices. I am not prepared to disclose our purchase prices.

Will the right hon. Gentleman say whether it is a fact that this fat went bad because it was landed on the quay and left there unstored for a considerable period of time, and that that coincided with the dock strike?

I have no information to that effect.

What on earth does the right hon. Gentleman mean when he keeps repeating that it is "used for technical purposes"?

It is used for making soap.

Then why not say so?

In view of the unsatisfactory nature of the reply, I beg to give notice that I shall raise the matter on the Adjournment at the earliest opportunity.

asked the Minister of Food if he will now increase the sugar ration.

Much as I would like to do this, I regret that it is not possible at present. We buy the entire exports of the Commonwealth and the only extra sugar we could buy would cost dollars, which we cannot afford.

Will the Minister bear in mind the possibility of a bonus ration even when the circumstances do not justify an increase in the ration, because many housewives are finding it very difficult to manage on the present ration?

asked the Minister of Food whether, with a view to ensuring an adequate home pig population, he will consider increasing the offal extraction rate and improve the quality of pig and cattle feedingstuffs; and if he will give an assurance that the present imports of feedingstuffs necessary to maintain the present increasing pig population will be continued.

As to the first part of the Question, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Central Bristol (Mr. Awbery) on 24th October. As to the second part, I have good hope of being able to maintain imports of feeding-stuffs on the present scale.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the reply he gave on that date was not satisfactory, and he really must give further thought to this matter? There is far too much unfinished thinking. Why do they not get down to it? Can we have much more than hope? We want a definite assurance that feedingstuffs will be imported. I am not satisfied at all.

asked the Minister of Food why passengers crossing the Irish Sea from the Republic of Ireland are only allowed to bring in to Great Britain 7 lb. of food, while passengers crossing the Straits of Dover from the French Republic are allowed to bring in 50 lb.

The lower limit was retained in the case of the Republic of Ireland, because there is also a land frontier to consider, and because the Government of the Irish Republic said they would prefer us to do so.

Why should the British Customs stop what the Irish Customs have let out, not enforcing their own rules? What duty do we owe to the Irish Customs? What British interests are served by the restriction?

There is the interest of Northern Ireland to consider in the matter.

Well, make a separate rule for Great Britain.

In asking this Question, Mr. Speaker, may I point out that the word "tons" should be "tins."

I am afraid that the emendation does not make a great difference, as the answer is, "None, Sir."

Can the right hon. Gentleman explain how it is that these tins of oysters stamped with the words "United States of America" are freely available in the shops at the present time?

They must have been imported in previous years.

During this Government.

asked the Minister of Food to what extent the internal audit department of his Department was responsible for the accuracy of the accounts of the United Africa Company, when that company was acting as managing agents for the East African groundnuts scheme.

The internal audit division of the Ministry of Food had no responsibility for the preparation or accuracy of these accounts: this was the duty of the managing agents themselves. The division was responsible only for the audit of the accounts.

In view of the fact that the right hon. Gentleman appointed these people as his agents, does not the responsibility still rest on him to see that the audit department ensure that proper accounting is being carried out by the agents?

It is perfectly true that I bear the responsibility for appointing this firm as managing agents and I am willing to acknowledge that responsibility; but the responsibility of the internal audit division of my Ministry was to audit the accounts and make a report on them to the Comptroller and Auditor General, both of which responsibilities have been discharged.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware of the very grave shock to public opinion caused by the comments of the auditors, and how dare he brush that off so lightly?

I am not brushing off anything.

Was this internal audit continued when the Overseas Food Corporation took over?

No, Sir, A firm of auditors, Messrs, Cooper Brothers, were then appointed.

asked the Minister of Food if he will give details of the expenditure of £2,715,578 recorded in the Trade and Navigation Accounts as having been spent in imports of meat from the United States of America during the nine months ended 30th September, 1949.

As the answer is a table of figures, I will, with permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Minister of Food what was the quantity and value of feedingstuffs for animals listed in Class I, Group B, of the Trade and Navigation Accounts that were imported from the United States of America during the nine months ended 30th September, 1949.

As the answer contains a number of figures I will, with permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Minister of Food for what purposes a further £8 million has been advanced to the Overseas Food Corporation since 31st March, 1949.

Of this amount £420,400 was advanced for the Queensland British Food Corporation. The balance was for the development of the East African Groundnuts Scheme. It was required mainly for capital expenditure on clearing, housing and new transport facilities, partly for meeting the ordinary charges of the Corporation.

Can the Minister say, with regard to the major portion of it, in which region this capital expenditure is being made?

In the answer to a supplementary question, I cannot give a detailed account of it, but a large part, for example, was used for the railway in the Southern Province which the Governor of Tanganyika opened a fortnight ago.

Does any of this sum appear in the Service Estimates?

No, Sir.

Has the Minister seen the report of a speech made by the right hon. Gentleman the Foreign Secretary yesterday in which he said that part of the purpose of our expenditure in East Africa was for defence, and can he say whether any of this money has been allocated for that purpose?

No, Sir. In the report of the speech of my right hon. Friend which I saw, he said that the development of these territories would strengthen this country in peace and war, and that seems perfectly correct.

What is the total of the advances so far made.

I have given the House the figure already. It is roughly £29 million.

asked the Minister of Transport (1) how far the proposed cuts in capital expenditure will delay the construction of either the temporary toll-free bridge at Selby or the permanent bridge;

(2) whether his negotiations for the purchase of the toll rights of Selby toll bridge have yet been concluded.

In view of the present increased need for economy, I see no immediate prospect of acquiring the toll rights of Selby Bridge or of beginning the construction of either the temporary bridge or the new permanent one. The negotiations for the eventual purchase of toll rights are not yet concluded.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that it must be nearly three years since he told me that a new bridge would be constructed shortly, and does he not think that the people of Selby and the surrounding districts are entitled to expect some help from him after all this delay?

I have never attempted to deny the value of this bridge if it was reconstructed. There are many other proposals throughout the country which are equally important as this.

Will the Minister promise to repair the bridge and the roadway, if he will not construct a new one?

No, Sir. This is a private toll bridge and first it must be acquired. Then the intention was to put in a new bridge.

Will the right hon. Gentleman give an assurance that at least the negotiations for the purchase of the toll rights will be continued until concluded?

No. I cannot do that because the Chancellor of the Exchequer indicated recently that one of the economies of my Department must be secured by the postponement of the acquisition of toll rights.

asked the Minister of Transport why Statutory Instruments 1793, 1794, 1795, 1796 and 1797 of 1949 are made as separate statutory instruments.

These instruments give effect to proposals made independently by different local authorities at different dates and the draft instruments were consequently prepared separately. It is not my practice to make such instruments until the necessary signs are ready for erection. This occurred at about the same time in all five districts.

Is not it a fact that all five instruments were signed by the right hon. Gentleman on the same day and that they do exactly similar things, all of them in the Metropolitan area, and would it not have saved a great deal of paper if they had all been made in one?

It would have been convenient if I could have done that. As a matter of fact, the dates vary considerably, and the authorities managed to get the signs from the suppliers at more or less the same date. That is why it happened in this way.

If the right hon. Gentleman looks at the instruments, he will see that next to his signature in all five cases appears an identical date.

The discussions and the negotiations were on different dates.

asked the Minister of Transport if he is yet able to say when action will be taken to implement the recommendation of the Committee of Road Safety Report of 1947 that cycles should have efficient brakes, and that all parts and accessories of cycles should be in such a condition that no danger is caused to other road users.

I intend to give effect to the recommendation as to brakes when circumstances permit. I have not accepted the other recommendation referred to and do not, therefore, propose to take action on it.

Can my right hon. Friend say, in reference to the first recommendation, when circumstances are likely to permit?

This is a question both of supplies and information. I do not think that it is a matter of sufficient importance at present to cause me to take unnecessary action.

Does not my right hon. Friend agree that no supplies are involved and that this is simply a question of making it compulsory for brakes to be efficient? In view of the pressure that there is from the local road safety committees, will my right hon. Friend see whether something can be done?

It would require the provision of brakes if I made this compulsory.

asked the Minister of Transport what are the salaries, designations and duties of the 13 members of his Department at present employed in Egypt.

As the answer is somewhat lengthy and involves a number of figures I will, with permission, circulate it in HANSARD.

Could the Minister shorten the answer by reducing the staff?

asked the Minister of Transport how many accidents have occurred to Thames water buses since the opening of the service; and whether any resulted in loss of life.

Only one accident to a Thames water bus has been reported to me and this involved no loss of life.

asked the Minister of Transport how much steel and other materials he allocates annually for the construction and maintenance of the locomotives on the railways.

It is not the practice to give details of allocations for particular purposes.

Is my right hon. Friend supplying iron and steel and other materials necessary to maintain the 400 types of locomotives built in Swindon and other railway works which he took over when the railways were nationalised? Is he continuing all these types?

No, Sir. As the result of nationalisation, these 400 types will be reduced to quite a small number.

If the Minister cannot give details of the allocations of steel, can he say whether there will be any reduction in the allocations for the construction of locomotives next year?

In view of the very large number of main-line locomotives which are completely out of action because they require steel parts, will the Minister give the matter his urgent attention, because the railway service is liable to break down if this trouble continues?

There are not a great number of locomotives out of action. Since nationalisation there has been a considerable improvement in the figure for locomotives under repair, because of the better use of locomotives for the purpose of hauling stock.

Perhaps the right hon. Gentleman will extend his inquiries to Scotland, where I have received entirely different information.

I understand that there is great satisfaction in Scotland now that the railways have been nationalised.

Will the Minister take steps, in consultation with his Cabinet colleagues, to ensure that the price which the railways have to pay for iron and steel does not rise in future?