17. Mr. Vaneasked the President of the Board of Trade what consultations he had with woodland owners in the United Kingdom before deciding to release large stocks of timber from the strategic reserve, thus endangering the stability of the home market.
§ The Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Trade (Mr. Derek Walker-Smith)The associations representing woodland owners in the United Kingdom were told in confidence of the Board's plans for release of hardwood at a meeting of the Home Grown Timber Advisory Committee on 25th April, and were invited to make any representations they wished. No such representations have been received. I have no reason to think 188 that our releases of timber endanger the stability of the home market.
18. Mr. Vaneasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware of the annually increasing quantity of home-grown timber suitable for both sawn and round mining timber; and what plans he has to ensure that full use is made of all this material and that no foreign exchange is spent on supplies from abroad which could be found equally well from home-grown resources.
§ Mr. Walker-SmithYes, Sir. I am aware that supplies of home-grown mining timber are increasing steadily. The National Coal Board is almost the only buyer of mining timber, and its buying policy in this and other spheres is determined by commercial considerations. I am informed, however, that the Board is at present taking all the available home-grown mining timber which is offered to it and is suitable for its purposes.
Mr. VaneIs my hon. and learned Friend aware that there is reason to believe that the National Coal Board could take a small extra amount of timber, and that the amount available will increase every year? Is he also aware that about one-third of our imported mining timber is either paid for in dollars or comes from the Soviet Union, prepared presumably by slave labour or something nearly equal to it? Will he give an assurance that the home trade will not be made to take second place?
§ Mr. Walker-SmithI have already said that the National Coal Board is taking all that is offered to it and is suitable for it. In 1955 that was 45 per cent. of its requirements. The proportion this year, my hon. Friend will be glad to know, is expected to be slightly higher.
§ Mr. CallaghanWill the hon. and learned Gentleman undertake not to bring any pressure on the National Coal Board which will result in it taking pit props which might be unsuitable for its purposes?
§ Mr. Walker-SmithClearly it would be false economy to try to make the Board take unsuitable pit props, and I am sure that my hon. Friend the Member for Westmorland (Mr. Vane) did not have that in mind.