HC Deb 05 February 1948 vol 446 cc321-2W
115. Mr. Piratin

asked the President of the Board of Trade what negotiations are proceeding for the purchase of timber from non-dollar countries; and whether he can hold out hopes for the supply of timber for house building.

Mr. H. Wilson

Negotiations for the purchase of softwood timber are in prospect with most of the European supplying countries, the next few months being the normal season of the year for such negotiations. With regard to the supply of timber for house building, I would refer to the White Paper on "Capital Investment in 1948" (Cmd. 7268) from which it will be seen that the programme is to be reviewed in the summer in the light of the amount of timber which we are likely to import this year.