asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce whether he is aware that the price of industrial turf, which had previously been 25/- per ton, was increased to 30/- per ton, from the 11th April, 1946, and to 40/- per ton from the 16th April, 1946, by Fuel Importers (Eire) Limited; that these changes are very disturbing to industrial firms which have been using industrial turf and impose large and unexpected increases in fuel costs; and if he will cause inquiry to be made as to the reasons for these increases and state whether they are warranted, and, if so, what has brought them about.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Price of Industrial Turf.
The industrial turf to which the Deputy refers is the residual turf left in the dumps after disposal by Fuel Importers (Éire), Limited, of the supplies considered suitable for domestic use. As Fuel Importers' turf trading activities entail the payment of a substantial subsidy, the company are required to dispose of this residue at the best possible price in order to minimise the subsidy payments. The price realised for the turf varies according to the time and circumstances of its sale. Industrial concerns using turf are not obliged to purchase it from Fuel Importers (Éire), Limited, and may, by arranging for the direct production of their own requirements, avoid if they wish any disturbing effects of the fluctuation in the price of supplies from Fuel Importers, which is fixed in relation to the quality and the demand from time to time.
Will the Minister say whether he is causing inquiries to be made as to why the price should be changed by an addition of 5/- on the 11th April, and why a further additional charge of 10/- should be made on the 16th April?
As I have told the Deputy, the price of this turf varies from place to place and from time to time, according to the circumstances of its sale. The prices quoted by the Deputy refer to one concern and to one area. There prices would not necessarily be charged to concerns in other areas. Fuel Importers, Limited, are endeavouring to secure the best possible price for that residual turf. The price it secures is, obviously, determined by the demand for it, and by the quality of the turf itself.
The Minister surely will realise that if there is an accumulation of turf in one particular centre, and if there are industrial users depending on it, it is frightfully unsatisfactory to them, in depending on these fuel supplies, to have an increase in one week of 5/- per ton, and a week afterwards a further increase of 10/- a ton. In all, these increases might involve an additional expenditure on fuel for 12 months of, say, £2,500 or £2,300.
Industrial users should not be depending on this turf. All industrial users were urged to make arrangements to meet their own turf needs, and have no assurance whatever that this turf will be available to them.
So that industrialists may take it that for practical purposes Fuel Importers, Limited, and industrial turf are going out of business?
The business of Fuel Importers, Limited, is to provide, store and dispose of turf for domestic purposes. Some proportion of the turf that they acquire may be found to be unsuitable for domestic use, and, consequently, may be sold for industrial purposes, but industrialists can have no assurance that a supply of this turf will be available to them.