§ Sir P. Hurdasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works whether he has completed the promised inquiry into the existence of large unused stores of seasoned timber on military and other Government premises which could be used for the construction of the new rural houses and for repairs in bombed areas; and with what result?
§ Mr. HicksYes, Sir. I have satisfied myself that there are no large unused stores of seasoned timber on military and other Government premises that can be diverted from the Purposes for which they are at present intended, to increase the timber available for new or bomb-damaged houses. The use of timber for all purposes is under close and continuous scrutiny, by the Ministry of Supply Timber Control and the Ministry of Works and has been since the timber position deteriorated; and the existence of local stocks of unused timber does not imply any actual or potential waste.