7. Mr. Vaneasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is satisfied with the quantity and quality of mining timber now being obtained by the Coal Board; what approximate proportion of such supply is derived from home sources; how the price of home-grown props compares with that of similar imported props; and what plans have been made by his Department or by the Coal Board to ensure that a fair proportion of future requirements will be obtained from homegrown material
§ Mr. H. WilsonI understand that my right hon. Friend the Minister of Fuel and Power is in the main satisfied with both the quantity and quality of mining timber now being obtained by the National Coal Board. So far this year 17 per cent. by volume of colliery acquisitions have been home-produced timber. It is estimated that on the average the cost of imported is 50 per cent. more than corresponding 521 home-grown mining timber, quality for quality. With regard to the last part of the Question, every effort is being made by my Department to encourage the largest possible production of pitprops from home-grown timber, having regard to the minimum needs of good forestry.
Mr. VaneCould the right hon. Gentleman develop a little what he meant by "every effort"? Could he be more specific?
§ Mr. Emrys HughesIs the Minister satisfied with the price of this imported timber? Is he aware that the price per ton of coal produced has gone up from 2s. 6d. to 4s. during the last year, which is largely due to the middlemen, and will he consider taking steps to eliminate the middlemen?
§ Mr. WilsonThe price of imported timber—which, incidentally, is all imported on Government account—has been rising very rapidly in recent months because of the trend of prices in most of the countries where we have to buy it.
§ Mr. ScollanWould the President of the Board of Trade tell us whether this is largely due to the middlemen, through whom the Coal Board are trading in order to get these supplies for the pits?
§ Mr. WilsonNo, Sir.