§ 18. Lord Willoughby de Eresbyasked the President of the Board of Trade if he will give a rough estimate of standing timber in Great Britain which is sufficiently matured for felling and is available to the home-grown timber trade.
§ Sir S. CrippsI regret that it is not possible to give any such estimate. Of all the timber standing at the beginning of the war, it is estimated that one-third of the hardwood and nearly two-thirds of the softwood had been felled by the middle of last year, and that comparatively little remains still available for felling.
§ Lord Willoughby de EresbyIs the Minister aware that many home timber 8 mills may soon be closed, owing to the serious inroads made into home-grown timber during the war? Will he do his best to arrange for timber in the round to be imported from Germany in the form of reparations payment?
§ Sir S. CrippsWe are trying to arrange for the importation of timber of all classes as rapidly as possible.
§ Lord Willoughby de EresbyTimber in the round?
§ Sir S. CrippsYes, Sir.
§ Colonel RopnerIs the Minister aware that private woodland owners are being pressed by his Department and the Ministry of Supply to cut more immature timber while the State forests are still heavily stocked?
§ Sir S. CrippsI think the hon. and gallant Gentleman is mistaken if he thinks that the stocks in Government forests are any better than those in the hands of private individuals.