§ Mr. Skeetasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will give the figures for the imports of (a) hardwoods and (b) softwoods into the United Kingdom during each of the past five years and for the trend in the prices of timber.
§ Mr. ChannonThe information is as follows:
United Kingdom imports of hardwoods and softwoods Table A Value: £ millions (cif) Weight: Metric tonnes (thousands) 1980 1981 1982 1983 *1984 Hardwoods Value 114 133 136 213 228 Weight 531 549 545 743 642 Softwoods Value 563 464 529 716 767 Weight 3,698 3,191 3,677 4,275 4,084 * Provisional. Source: For hardwoods, SITC/R2 Sub-groups 247.2, 247.9 (part) and 248.3 and Item 246.01 (part); and for softwoods, SITC/R2 Sub-groups 247.1, 247.9 (part) and 248.2 and Item 246.01 (part), in the United Kingdom Overseas Trade Statistics.
Table B Wholly or mainly imported timber price index (annual averages) Wood sawn lengthwise 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 Hardwoods 100 106.7 116.2 127.6 137.1 Softwoods 100 98.6 98.3 112.6 128.3 Source: Business Statistics Office.
§ Mr. Skeetasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the consumption of timber per capita compared with the Federal Republic of Germany, France and Italy.
§ Mr. ChannonThe consumption of timber, measured in cubic metres per capita is shown in the table. The figures relate to 1982, the latest year for which full information is available. Timber is defined as including sawn wood, logs, fuelwood, pulpwood and industrial wood but excluding manufactured board, wood pulp, newsprint, paper and paper board.
Consumption of Timber 1982 Cubic metres per capita United Kingdom 0.34 Federal Republic of Germany 0.85 France 0.88 Italy 0.47 Source: UN and FAO.