§ Mr. H. JONESasked the President of the Board of Trade what is the total sum expended by the Timber Control Department up to the 31st March last in connection with home-grown timber operations, and what is the revenue derived for the same period; how many persons are still employed; in what localities; at 2176W what cost per month; and at what date it is proposed to terminate these operations?
§ Sir W. MITCHELL - THOMSONParticulars of the trading operations of the Home Grown Timber Department together with a balance sheet have been furnished to 31st March, 1919, in Command Paper 1062; and similar information will shortly be furnished to 31st March, 1920. The total charges to the trading account to that date are £18,297,024, while recoveries (including stocks on hand) amounted to £15,215,155. Later accounts are not available, but are in course of preparation. The number of persons still employed on the timber operations is 1,015, including the staffs at the divisional offices, and the localities in which they are employed are: Newcastle, Haverfordwest, Cirencester, Exeter, Chester, Cambridge, Lyndhurst, Tunbridge Wells, Oxford, Catford, Marshmoor and Scotland. The current cost per month is £12,442. The dates on which it may be possible to terminate these operations cannot be stated at present, but it is anticipated that with the exception of the Exeter and Cirencester divisions, all the divisional offices will be closed shortly.