HC Deb 03 November 1947 vol 443 cc173-4W
Commander Noble

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty what response has been made to the representations made by the shipbuilding industry about delays in issuing timber licences for new tonnage.

Mr. W. Edwards

Representations have been received that some shipbuilders are not receiving timber sufficiently early for their requirements. It has been explained in reply that the basic difficulty in licensing adequate quantities of timber for individual shipyards, at the time when it is required, is due to the fact that the quantities available for allocation quarterly fall short of the current needs of the industry. Every consideration is, however, given to meeting requirements in individual cases where lack of timber at any given stage in a ship's construction is seriously holding up production.