§ Mr. COWANasked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the injurious effect on the building trade, and consequently on employment, produced by the increase in the price of timber since the outbreak of war; and whether the Government will take steps to fix maximum prices for such raw materials on a basis similar to that recently adopted in the case of foodstuffs?
Mr. ROBERTSONMy attention has been called to the matter referred to by my hon. Friend. The Board of Trade are fully aware of its importance, and are considering what steps, if any, are possible and desirable to encourage the supplies of timber for building. I may add that it is not accurate to say that the Government have themselves fixed maximum prices for foodstuffs.