asked the President of the Board of Trade if the Government has purchased, or is under any obligation to purchase, tungsten ores from Empire or foreign sources; if so, what tonnage has been acquired from 1st January to 31st October, 1920; what price per unit has been paid for such ores; and what stocks are held by the Government either abroad or in this country?

I have been asked to answer this question. The Government made extensive purchases of tungsten ore during the War, but is no longer under any obligation to purchase such ore either from Empire or foreign sources. As a result of contracts entered into during the War, approximately 1,271 tons of tungsten ores have been received from Australia during the present year, but it is not desirable to give the prices. The unsold stocks held by the Government at present of wolfram and molybdenite do not exceed 200 tons.