§ 19. Sir N. GRATTAN-DOYLEasked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies what steps are taken by his Department to bring to the notice of Government Departments, local authorities and public companies the desirability of making use of timber of Empire origin in connection with their works?
§ Dr. SHIELSThe attention of the Colonial Governments concerned has been called by my Noble Friend to the tenth report of the Imperial Economic Committee on the marketing of timber and steps have been taken by the Empire Marketing Board for some time past to bring to the notice of Government Departments, local authorities, railways, port and harbour authorities and public companies the desirability of using Empire timbers. Work in this direction is also done by the Imperial Institute and the Forest Products Research Laboratory. I would add that the Colonial Office maintains close touch with the activities of these bodies.
§ Sir N. GRATTAN-DOYLEIs the hon. Gentleman aware that all the requirements of the Government can be supplied by the Dominions?
§ Dr. SHIELSYes, I am aware of that, and I shall be very glad to send the hon. Gentleman a statement showing how much is done to bring to the notice of Government Departments, as well as to private firms, the resources of the Empire.
§ Sir N. GRATTAN-DOYLEThat being so, why is any purchase made outside the Empire?
§ Mr. MARJORIBANKSHas the hon. Gentleman brought this to the notice of the First Commissioner of Works?
§ 62. Mr. MARJORIBANKSasked the First Commissioner of Works whether he will give details as to any timber purchased from Russia used by his Department during the last 12 months?
§ Mr. LANSBURYThe bulk of the timber used in connection with the work of the Department, which must comply with the specification referred to in my reply to the question asked on the 28th instant by the hon. Member for North Newcastle-on-Tyne, is purchased direct by contractors, and no records are kept 471 in my Department as to the source of supply. The value of the timber of Russian origin purchased direct by the Department during the last 12 months was £2,228.
§ Mr. MARJORIBANKSHaving regard to the answer of the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies, that the Empire could supply all our needs in timber, will not the right hon. Gentleman have the patriotism to inquire—
§ Mr. SPEAKERNo. 63.
§ Mr. MARJORIBANKS rose—
§ Mr. SPEAKERIf the hon. Member makes imputations in his supplementary question, he cannot expect to be allowed to proceed.
§ 65. Captain PETER MACDONALDasked the First Commissioner of Works what quantity and value of timber of Empire origin and of Russian origin, respectively, has been purchased by his Department in the last 12 months?
§ Mr. LANSBURYThe total value of timbers purchased direct by the Department during the last 12 months was approximately £14,200. Of this amount £5,665 was paid for timber of Empire origin and £2,228 for timber of Russian origin.
§ Captain MACDONALDIn view of the statement of the President of the Board of Trade the other day as to the conditions under which timber was produced, will the right hon. Gentleman take steps to see that no Russian timber is imported into this country?
§ Mr. LEIF JONESCan the right hon. Gentleman assure the House that all the timber he buys is good timber, cheap, and suitable for the purpose?
§ Mr. LANSBURYAs I informed the House the other day, the instructions of the Department are quite definite, that, wherever suitable wood can be purchased in this country or in any of the Dominions or Colonies, it must be so purchased, but timber that cannot be purchased within the Empire must be purchased wherever it can be obtained.
§ Captain MACDONALDIs the right hon. Gentleman not aware that the American Government has prohibited the importation of Russian timber because 472 it is produced by convict labour, and will the British Government take similar action?
§ Mr. LANSBURYThe Office of Works has a great many duties, various in their character, but it is not its duty to inspect imports of any kind into this country.
§ Mr. SPEAKERWe cannot have a debate.