§ 35. Lady Tweedsmuirasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will ensure that the sixth set of standards for timber engineering now being drafted will ensure fair competition for British firms producing laminated timber in competition with continental firms.
§ Mr. ErrollMy hon. Friend is presumably referring to the work which has been done by the Timber Development Association on recommended standards for structural glued laminated timber. The Timber Development Association is an independent trade body, and my right hon. Friend has no responsibility for the recommendations it makes.
§ Lady TweedsmuirIs not my hon. Friend aware that the Timber Development Association is backed by the Government? That being so, cannot he make representations to the association that the present set of standards are being so stringently drawn, compared with the Continental standards, that it makes it uneconomic for British firms to compete? To give an example, is my hon. Friend aware that a large firm in my constituency, which was to be the second in Scotland to develop laminated timber, is now considering withdrawing from this project although it has built a large factory extension?
§ Mr. ErrollThat is a matter for the association. The Government grant is for research work and the production of these standards is not part of the research work carried out by the Timber Development Association