§ 80. Flight-Lieutenant Haireasked the President of the Board of Trade what was the average monthly production of plywood in this country in 1939 and for the first three months of 1946; what were the average monthly imports for the same periods; and what were and are, the main sources of supply outside this country.
§ Mr. BelcherNo official statistics of plywood production in this country in 1939 are available, but information obtained from trade sources indicates that average monthly production of commercial plywood was about 500,000 sq. ft. a month. The corresponding figure for the first three months of 1946 is 5¾ million sq. ft. per month. Imports during the first eight months of 1939 averaged 50 million sq. ft. a month. For the first three months of 1946, the figure was 25 million sq. ft. a month. The main sources of supply outside this country before the war were Finland, Russia, Latvia, Poland, Japan, Canada, U.S.A. and France. At present, they are Canada, U.S.A., Finland, Brazil and Sweden.
§ Flight-Lieutenant HaireWhile I thank my hon. Friend for that long answer, may I ask him whether he will do what he can further to increase the importation of plywood beyond the quantity he has just stated, as the shortage of plywood is holding up furniture production?
§ Mr. BelcherWe are aware of that, and we are doing everything we can.