65. Mr. PALMERasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Munitions whether, for the information of the House, he will have prepared a statement showing the total transactions of the Timber-Buying Department to date and the cost of the department, differentiating between salaries and commissions.
§ Sir R. HORNEI have been asked to reply. An account of the transactions of the Government Timber Buyer has been prepared to 31st March, 1919, and a further account relating to the year ended 31st March, 1920, is in course of preparation. The transactions are very numerous and the account for last year is not likely to be completed before the end of June. I propose at a later date to lay a statement before the House relating to the operations of the Timber Control Department as a whole.
Mr. PALMERWill this statement differentiate between the Commission to 1691 Mr. Meyer and the salary paid to the staff?
§ Sir R. HORNEI think undoubtedly all the items of the accounts will be disclosed.
§ Brigadier-General CROFTWill the right hon. Gentleman give an undertaking that all the timber will be sold within two years of the Armistice?
§ Sir R. HORNEI do not know what the hon. and gallant Member means by "all the timber." I think all the timber in stock a year ago has been sold—at least, that is my impression. I may be wrong about some particular lots of it, but the great bulk of that certainly has been sold.
§ Mr. LAMBERTIs this department still carrying on operations, or is it being wound up?
§ Sir R. HORNEIt is only carrying on for the purpose of winding up.
§ Mr. HOUSTONIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that there is cut timber lying about in the country rotting?
§ Sir R. HORNEI was not. I know a certain amount is not yet disposed of.
§ Mr. BILLINGWhen the right hon. Gentleman says that all timber in their possession a year ago has been sold and that they are now winding up, is he referring to the staff or the timber?
§ Sir R. HORNEThere was a certain amount of growing timber purchased by the Timber Department and we have had to deal with that. I was not talking of this particular line of timber when I referred to stock.
§ Sir R. HORNEIf you are going to dispose of it you must have a staff.
Sir F. HALLA city merchant would put it into the hands of an agent to dispose of it, and would not require a large staff?
§ Sir R. HORNEI have not given the hon. Gentleman any reason to suppose there was a large staff. We must have a certain staff.
§ Sir R. HORNEThe hon. Gentleman knows, the particular operations of the Forestry Commission and he will realise that what we are doing is different from their functions.
§ Mr. SPEAKERThe hon. Member should give notice of any further questions.