§ Mr. Isaacsasked the Minister of Supply whether he will state the number of staff at present engaged in the Department of Timber Control and the annual cost of such Department, with corresponding figures for the last complete month in the war of 1914–18; whether, in view of the shortage of timber and the difficulty of securing adequate supplies and uniform distribution, he has secured the advice of persons whose practical knowledge of this industry qualifies them for such services; and is he satisfied that the control in its present location is more advantageous than if located in London, where this business is normally conducted?
§ Mr. BurginThe staff of the Timber Control at a recent date consisted of 522 persons, the total pay-roll expenditure being at the rate of approximately £172,000 per annum. These figures exclude the staff dealing with home-grown timber who are mainly civil servants of the Forestry Commission in receipt of their normal salaries. I have no official figures as to the number and cost of the staff of the Timber Supply Department in the last war, and the many changes that have occurred would, I think, render any comparison of little value. The answer to the second part of the question is in the affirmative.
As to the location of the Control, it was considered desirable, as I informed the hon. Member for Plaistow (Mr. Thorne) on 19th October, that the offices of the various raw materials controls should not be set up in London; and, as a part of the general scheme, accommodation at Bristol, a centre with good communications, was allocated to the Timber Control.
§ Mr. Isaacsasked the Minister of Supply whether in view of the system whereby the Air Ministry and War Ministry must obtain permits from the Timber Control Department before they can order supplies of timber, he has any qualified person with knowledge of the industry and the requirements of these service departments acting as liaison officer: or will 855W he consider making such appointment with authority to meet the need of the services without delay?
§ Mr. BurginThe demands for timber for direct requirements of the Departments referred to are made through their own experienced officers, who work in close touch with the Timber Control Department. No special appointment is, therefore, necessary.
§ Mr. Isaacsasked the Minister of Supply whether he has considered the arrangements operating in the war of 1914–1918, whereby with the authority and co-operation of the Government of France and a supply of competent woodsmen provided by the Government of Canada, the timber required by the British Army was obtained from French forests; and whether, in view of the need for setting free for food transport all possible ship tonnage, he will consider relieving the demand upon sea-transport and the more economical supply of timber by endeavouring to make a similar arrangement with the Governments named?
§ Mr. BurginI have been in consultation with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for War on this subject, and arrangements for obtaining timber from French trees are already in train.
§ Mr. R. Gibsonasked the Minister of Supply what steps he has taken, and what steps he is proposing to take, to make available the timber necessary to complete the houses under construction but whose completion has been delayed through lack of the necessary timber?
§ Mr. BurginArrangements have been made for the grant of licences, subject to the issue of a certificate by the Ministry of Health in each case, for timber required for the completion of the largest possible number of houses under construction, having regard to the limited supplies of timber available for this purpose.