asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will state with reference to superphosphate: (a) particulars of arrangements made with Great Britain whereby manufacturers here are now manufacturing for Great Britain; (b) the total quantity proposed to be manufactured under such arrangement; (c) the advantages, financial or otherwise, of such arrangement to the agricultural industry here; (d) whether such arrangement has held up output for our own requirements and, if so, to what extent; and (e) whether, in entering into such arrangement, supplies of sulphate of ammonia were asked for as a quid pro quo.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Superphosphate Supplies.
Arrangements have been approved by me for the manufacture, from materials supplied and shipped by the British authorities, of 40,000 tons of superphosphate, of which 27,000 tons will be exported to Great Britain and Northern Ireland and 13,000 tons retained for use in this country.
These arrangements are of advantage to the agricultural industry in that additional supplies of superphosphate are being obtained which would not otherwise be available, and that these supplies are being obtained at a lower cost than would otherwise have been possible. The arrangements have not in any way held up the production of superphosphate for domestic requirements.
Having regard to the fact that the arrangements in question provide for the retention in this country of one-third of the total quantity of superphosphate to be produced, no request was made for supplies of sulphate of ammonia as a quid pro quo. The question of securing the release of sulphate of ammonia for this country is being pursued separately.