§ 129. Mr. Osborneasked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that, owing to higher priorities having been given to the building and furniture industries, no further supplies of beech are now available for the production of wood heels for women's shoes, 60 per cent. of the output of which relies exclusively on this timber for which there is no practical substitute; and what steps are being taken to provide home grown or imported beech for this purpose.
§ Mr. BelcherI am aware tat manufacturers of wood heels are not getting all the beech they need. This is due not, as the hon. Member suggests, to any preference given to other industries, but to a general shortage of supplies. Home grown beech is scarce because of the very heavy inroads made into available supplies during the war. Every effort is being made to obtain imported beech from all possible sources; and it is hoped that, in particular, increasing quantities will become available from Germany.