§ 54. Mr. GILBERTasked the President of the Board of Trade whether the Homegrown Timber Department is still being carried on by his Department; what number of people are employed; what the annual cost is; what was the approximate 1294 value of the sales of the Department last year; and whether it is proposed to continue the same and for what period?
§ Sir A. GEDDESThe Home-grown Timber Department is being wound up as rapidly as possible. There are still about 6,500 workpeople, sawyers, fellers, etc., on its pay-roll. It is not possible to quote a figure indicating its annual costs, as its expenses diminish month by month as undertakings are cleared up or disposed of. Its sales last year approximated in value to £3,790,000.