§ Sir R. Clarryasked the Minister of Supply what steps he has taken to control the wood-working industry of this country; and what are the precise terms of the instructions given to his directorate for that purpose and whether such instructions provide for safeguarding the demands which will be made upon the industry at the cessation of hostilities for the mass production of houses?
§ Sir A. DuncanThe functions of the directorate are to co-ordinate demands on the wood-working industry and to arrange with the Government Departments concerned that their orders shall be placed in such a way as to secure the best use of the industry's resources and to release surplus labour for essential war purposes. The directorate is assisted by an advisory trade panel and an inter-departmental committee. The latter includes representatives of the Health Departments and the Ministry of Works, who have in mind the needs of post-war housing.