8. Air Commodore Harveyasked the President of the Board of Trade what steps have been taken to assure a continued supply of Russian timber, in view of the supply of certain machine tools to Russia having been cut off.
Mr. H. WilsonThe Russians are shipping to this country plywood, softwood and mining timber under contracts signed last March and June. Over half the plywood and mining timber and nearly half the softwood have already been delivered. His Majesty's Government cannot ensure that Russian timber will continue to be supplied, but I would point out that the timber is sold for sterling which the Russians are free to use, subject to the strategic controls which have had to be imposed, for a wide variety of purchases in the sterling area. Only a very small proportion of this sterling has consisted of purchases of machine tools in the United Kingdom.
Air Commodore HarveyWill the right hon. Gentleman tell the House what steps are being taken in the meantime, in case there should be a breakdown of deliveries in the future, to obtain more timber from the British Commonwealth and Canada?
Mr. WilsonI think that to some extent that is another question. I can assure the hon. and gallant Member that very large contracts have been already placed in Canada since before the Recess.