§ 2. Mr. Wingfield Digbyasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will enumerate the various steps which are being taken by his Department to encourage the marketing of home-grown timber; and to what extent these plans include arrangements to use the increase in home-grown timber which is expected during the next few years.
§ Mr. John HareThe Forestry Commission is actively engaged in encouraging the marketing of home-grown timber and in planning for the marketing of the increased supplies which will be available in future. Measures to these ends include the provision of assistance in the establishment of associations of private woodland owners; negotiation for the setting up of new timber consuming industries; market research; co-operation with the Forest Products Research Laboratory on research into the properties of home-grown timber; and provision of forecasts of future supplies and of information on the suitability of various timbers for particular processes.
§ Mr. DigbyWill my right hon. Friend give all possible help in the setting up of these timber-consuming industries, in view of their great importance in the future?
§ Mr. MackieWill the Minister see his right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland, because in Scotland there are several county councils that do not allow timber to be used for building piggeries?
§ Mr. HareI am quite sure that my right hon. Friend will note what the hon. Gentleman has just said.