HC Deb 26 July 1950 vol 478 c77W
130. Mr. Maudling

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty in what circumstances, and subject to what limitations, ship-repairers can obtain softwoods for repairing damaged hatches.

Mr. W. Edwards

Softwood for repairing merchant ship hatches is licensed regionally in sufficient quantities to enable the work to be carried out, and the ship-repairer is then free to obtain his requirements from any source in the United Kingdom. Although softwood stocks are low, I am not aware of any case in which a ship has been delayed through inability to obtain suitable timber for hatches.