Vol. 404 No. 4
226 Mr. Bell asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if his attention has been drawn to the fact that (a) there is a 28 per cent surcharge being applied to galvanising, (b) it is alleged to be linked to the cost of zinc, (c) the cost of zinc has dropped considerably to an all time low and (d) this surcharge is being applied at 28 per cent in Ireland, England, Northern Ireland and Scotland.
My attention has not been so drawn. I understand that several firms in this country provide galvanising services to industry while a number of other firms provide their own in-house facilities. I would regard the cost of industrial sub-contract services as a matter to be negotiated between the industrial users and providers and not an area where I should interfere. I have, of course, no function in relation to the situation which obtains in the United Kingdom.
