§ 88. Captain Pluggeasked the Minister of Supply whether he intends to advise the public of the need for extreme care and discretion in the use of timber, especially with the object of avoiding as much as possible the destruction of such British woodlands as we possess and which is now actually in progress?
§ The Minister of Supply (Mr. Burgin)Considerable publicity has already been given to the necessity of economy in the consumption of timber for civil requirments. In general, the utilisation of timber is restricted to essential war requirements under a system of allocations and licences which was described in the answer given to a Question by the hon. Member for East Swansea (Mr. Mort) on 21st March. With regard to the last part of the Question, in present circumstances imports must be supplemented by increased quantities of home grown timber, but the programme of production has been prepared in agreement with the Forestry Commission, which is responsible, inter alia, for the conservation of home woodlands.