§ 65. Mr. Bossomasked the President of the Board of Trade how much softwood 817 timber for construction purposes was imported in the last three months for which he has statistics from the British zone of occupation in Germany; and how much hardwood timber in the same period.
§ Mr. BelcherDuring the three months, February to April, 1946, 4,970 standards of softwood and no hardwood were imported from the British zone of Germany.
§ Mr. BossomWe were told earlier this afternoon that we cannot export more goods because we cannot get hard wood. Why do we not get some from Germany?
§ Mr. BelcherWe are very anxious to get all the timber we can from Germany, but the North German Timber Control has not been operating very long. We are anticipating an increase. The hon. Gentleman may be assured that the Board of Trade are anxious to import as much timber as we can get from Germany.
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterWill the hon. Gentleman, in order to increase the supply, consider suggesting to the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster the introduction into the British zone of Germany of a scheme under which German citizens report secretly of each other where the timber is?
§ Mr. BelcherI am always prepared to consider suggestions put forward by the hon. Gentleman.
§ 66. Mr. Bossomasked the President of the Board of Trade how much pulp or timber for pulping was imported from the British zone of occupation in Germany during the most recent three months for which he has statistics.
§ Mr. BelcherThere have been no such imports.
§ Mr. BossomIs it not utterly ridiculous that we cannot produce scientific books because we cannot get timber for pulp, and yet are told it is being systematically cut in Germany? Why do not we get it?
§ Mr. BelcherThe hon. Gentleman assumes too easily that there is a surplus of pulp in Germany. There is not. In fact, they are importing it from Scandinavian countries.