§ Major Milnerasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Trade whether he is aware that certificates to purchase timber for packing-cases for export are being refused to reputable firms who are duly accepted members of their local chamber of commerce unless they formally join an export group; whether he will state the authority for such refusal; and whether such a discriminatory practice will now be discontinued?
§ Mr. JohnstoneIt is the practice to make bulk allocations of timber for packing cases for export to Export Groups, one of whose main functions is to facilitate the distribution of controlled raw materials required by individual exporters. Accordingly, certificates to purchase are not normally issued by the Board of Trade direct to exporters except in cases where there is no appropriate Group. I am, however, always prepared to examine particular cases of difficulty, and if my hon. and gallant Friend will furnish me with details of any cases he has in mind I shall be happy to look into them.