§ 21. Colonel Gomme-Duncanasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware of the amount of timber lying unused in timber yards in Scotland; and what steps are being taken to apply this urgently to the building of houses in rural areas in Scotland.
§ Mr. WoodburnI would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the reply given on 6th November to the hon. and gallant Member for East Grinstead (Colonel Clarke) by the Minister for Economic Affairs. Within the allocation of timber made available for housing, a special priority is granted for houses intended for occupation by the agricultural population.
§ Colonel Gomme-DuncanIs the Minister aware of the amount of timber which is actually lying about in Scotland? That is the important point which the farming communities are anxious to know about. They want to know what is to be done with it and why they cannot get on with it.
§ Mr. WoodburnThe point is that timber comes into the country at certain times of the year and that enough timber must be accumulated at this time of the year to enable us to carry on until the next supply becomes available.
§ Colonel Gomme-DuncanWhat about the home-grown timber which has been cut and is still lying in these yards?
§ Mr. WoodburnAll timber in this country, whether home-grown or imported, is part of the general pool from which we supply all our needs.
23. Lieut.-Commander Clark Hutchisonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will issue timber licences to builders to enable houses, the shells of which are already built, to be completed.
§ Mr. WoodburnThe issue of timber licences depends on the amount of timber available but within the present restricted supplies special consideration is given to houses which are in an advanced stage of construction.
§ Commander GalbraithIs the right hon. Gentleman keeping in mind the number of houses which are ready for the timber for their roofs and on which the work cannot proceed? Would he not allocate the timber which is available now so that these houses may be completed instead of letting them deteriorate as the result of the winter weather?
§ Mr. WoodburnThat, of course, is being done as far as timber is available, but timber is one of our great shortages and there are other things than housing for which timber is required. Each section of the country has its allocation for these vital purposes. I can assure the hon. and gallant Member that timber for housing is being allocated just in the way he suggests.