§ 36. Mr. Henderson Stewartasked the President of the Board of Trade why he declined to give a licence to a Scottish furniture manufacturer, of whom he has been informed, to produce furniture by a newly invented process, which would require less than 40 per cent. of the timber and labour now used for utility furniture; if he is aware that the scheme has been successfully operated for the Admiralty; that the whole machinery for the scheme was complete, but has now been dismantled; and what action he proposes to take to encourage this new enterprise.
§ Mr. BelcherAlthough the total timber content of the wardrobe which this manufacturer wants to make is slightly less than that of the latest comparable design in the utility furniture range, the amount of plywood and veneer required is rather more. The veneers needed for this admittedly ingenious design are particularly scarce. To divert these scarce materials to the manufacture of this specialised article would have some prejudicial effect on the Utility Scheme in this class of furniture, and for that reason I am afraid we should not be justified, at present, in giving facilities.
§ Mr. StewartIs the hon. Member sure that it is not just blind prejudice which prevents the Board of Trade from encouraging this very interesting process, which the Admiralty can show has proved an admirable design for furniture?
§ Mr. BelcherI agree that it is a most novel design. I have gone into this question myself, and I am satisfied that by adopting this process we should be diverting materials to the prejudice of the whole range of utility furniture.