HC Deb 12 April 1951 vol 486 cc1173-4
28. Mr. Emrys Hughes

asked the President of the Board of Trade to what extent the price of timber used in municipal houses in Scotland has increased during the last three months; to what extent this increase is due to decontrol of timber; and to what extent it is due to other causes.

Mr. Rhodes

I am informed that it is too early yet to estimate the effect of increased timber prices on municipal houses in Scotland. With regard to the rest of the Question, I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to the hon. Member for Nottingham, East (Mr. Harrison), on Tuesday, 10th April.

Mr. Hughes

Why does the hon. Gentleman say that it is too early, when, in my constituency, the price of timber has gone up by 50 per cent. and the cost of the timber used in a municipal house has increased by £70?

Mr. Rhodes

Let us be fair about this. We must give time for the market to settle down, and it is too early yet to be able to say.

Mr. N. Macpherson

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that the President of the Board of Trade, at the Timber Federation dinner before decontrol, said that he was advancing prices then and that they would go on advancing, whether decontrol was effected or not? Is he aware that import prices have advanced very much more in the last three months than prices to the consumers?

Mr. Hughes

In view of the unsatisfactory nature of the reply, I beg to give notice that I shall raise this matter on the Adjournment.