§ 56. Rear-Admiral Beamishasked the Minister of Supply why the Mid-Sussex Lumber Company has been permitted to establish itself on productive land at a place of which he has been notified; what are the names of the directors; and whether any, or all, of the long-established timber firms within a few miles have been given the opportunity of buying and processing the raw material concerned?
§ Mr. PeatI am informed that the Directors of the Company referred to are Mr. A. L. Rye and Mr. A. F. Chapman. I assume my hon. and gallant Friend is referring to the site for the sawmill. No permission from the Ministry of Supply is required for the acquisition or use of this land, which was presumably acquired under private agreement with any necessary permission from the local or other authority. As regards the last part of the Question, the standing timber in question was privately owned and I am not aware whether other merchants negotiated for its purchase. If any established firm should find it difficult to obtain supplies, the Home Timber Production Department would be glad to give it all possible assistance in finding them.