§ 94. Mr. Hurdasked the President of the Board of Trade if he has now concluded the proposed agreement with British Columbia for increased supplies of timber to be supplied to Britain.
§ Mr. H. WilsonYes. Orders have now been placed by the Timber Control with British Columbian shippers for approximately 60,000 standards of softwood to be delivered during the first half of next year.
§ 101. Mr. J. Morrisonasked the President of the Board of Trade what prices were paid respectively for the 15,000 standards of softwood and the 9,000 cubic fathoms of pit props imported from Soviet Russia in 1948; and what are the equivalent prices paid to English growers for the same types of timber.
§ Mr. H. WilsonPrices for 1948 sawn softwood and pitprop deliveries from Soviet Russia are in line with prevailing prices for supplies from other overseas sources but it is not the practice to reveal price details of current contracts. Homegrown softwood, even when sawn, is not comparable with timber from Soviet Russia and it is not possible to relate the prices for overseas supplies of timber to what the grower in this country receives for his trees. As to pitwood, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to him on 2nd November.