§ 5. Colonel STIRLINGasked the President of the Board of Trade how many sawmills in Scotland have been thrown out of work by the recent calling up of 600 men in the employment of timber merchants; and what is the consequent reduction of output of sawn timber and pitwood in Scotland?
Sir A. STANLEYA number of saw mills in Scotland were idle or working below full capacity for want of skilled labour before these men were called up, and I have no definite information at present of the extent to which this number has been increased; it has been estimated that the calling up of these men will reduce the output of sawn timber and pitwood from Scotland by about 20 per cent., but it is too early to say how far this estimate will be realised or exceeded.