§ Mr. REMERasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he intends 1205W to publish trading accounts showing the loss to the State in each year of Mr. Montague Meyer's trading in timber on behalf of the Government?
§ Sir P. LLOYD-GREAMEIt is proposed to publish trading accounts relating to the operations of Mr. Montague L. Meyer, who acted as the Government timber buyer, but it is not anticipated that they will show a loss to the State.
§ Mr. REMERasked the President of the Board of Trade how many standards of flooring boards were sold in January last by the Imported Timber Disposal Section at £31 per standard or less; and what are the names of the buyers?
§ Sir P. LLOYD-GREAMEThe number of standards of flooring boards sold by the Imported Timber Disposal Section of the Board of Trade in January last at £31 per standard or less is 1,168. Five of the six firms in question were also purchasers in January of flooring boards at over £31 per standard. It would be contrary to the usual practice and would not be in the public interest to give the names of individual purchasers.
§ Mr. REMERasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the 470 standards sold by the Imported Timber Disposal Section to Messrs. Hillas at £31 per standard were readily saleable at £39 per standard; and whether he has made inquiries as to the profit made by Messrs. Hillas on the re-sale?
§ Sir P. LLOYD-GREAMEI am not aware that the 470 standards of timber referred to were readily saleable at £39 per standard, and would refer to my answer given to the hon. Member on 3rd November, in which I stated that this parcel included timber which had been lying in the yards for over two years. The answer to the last part of the question is in the negative.