§ 17. Sir W. Smithersasked the President of the Board of Trade what is, by regions, the stock of soft wood timber in the country; if export industries are receiving their requirements; what is the average monthly release of timber for housing; and what are the limiting factors to prevent the increase of the present allocation for housing by 150,000 standards.
§ Mr. H. WilsonStocks of hewn and sawn softwood—excluding sleepers and certain stocks in consumers hands—by regions, as at the end of January last, were approximately as follows:
So far as I am aware the essential timber needs of the export industries are being met. As regards the third part of the Question, I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given him by my hon. Friend the Economic Secretary to the Treasury on Tuesday last. As regards the last part of the Question, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. and gallant Member for East Grinstead (Colonel Clarke) on 6th November last by the Chancellor of the Exchequer.
Standards North Eastern … … 79,846 North Western … … 77,565 Midland … … 75,129 South Eastern … … 184,355 Western … … 63,668 Northern Ireland … … 11,174 Scotland … … 52,321
§ Sir W. SmithersIs the President of the Board of Trade aware, and will he consult his right hon. Friend the Minister of Health, that if the Government ceased 1145 production of non-traditional houses, and concentrated on traditional houses, there would be an enormous saving of steel and timber?
§ Mr. WilsonNo, Sir, I am not aware of anything of the kind, and I am in close and almost permanent consultation with my right hon. Frend.
§ Colonel Stoddart-ScottIs the amount of timber in this country an increase on this time last year, or a reduction?
§ Mr. WilsonA very considerable increase.
§ Mr. HarrisonCan my right hon. Friend make a comparison between the stocks held prior to the war, and stocks held today.
§ Mr. WilsonI should want notice of that. I am not sure how complete the figures were before the war. My impression is that stocks at present are considerably above, about double a year ago, and are somewhat less than they were before the war.