§ 77 and 78. Mr. Swinglerasked the Minister of Fuel and Power (1) the amount of expenditure on, and the number of persons fully engaged in, research on safety in mines in each of the last three years; and if he will take steps to increase the resources of the Safety in Mines Research Establishment in view of the importance of preventing accidents underground;
(2) to what extent economies have been imposed on, and work has been slowed down at, the Safety in Mines Research Establishment since he took office.
§ Mr. Joynson-HicksMy right hon. Friend is fully aware of the importance of research to prevent accidents underground. There was a temporary standstill in staff recruitment between the end of 1951 and early in 1952, but recruitment was resumed in May, 1952, and the statement below shows that in fact the staff and the expenditure increased in each of the last three years.
to the reply given to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Berwick and East Lothian (Major Anstruther-Gray) on 18th June. As regards hardwood, imports from the sterling area are on open general licence, but those from the dollar area are restricted to essential types not obtainable elsewhere, and those from the rest of the world are strictly limited for currency reasons. There should therefore be no severe competition from non-sterling imports in selling the hardwood resulting from the windblow.
323W
§ Brigadier Medlicottasked the Minister of State, Board of Trade, as representing the Minister of Materials, if he has now given fresh consideration to the suggestion that the present restrictions on the importation of softwood should be terminated; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. AmoryI presume my hon. and gallant Friend is referring to the present restrictions on the consumption of softwood. My noble Friend has already had discussions with the trade on this matter. It involves an issue of balance of payments, and he cannot, at this stage, make any statement on this subject.