THE EARL OF MANSFIELDasked His Majesty's Government whether they will state, for 1945, 1946 and 1947 to the nearest convenient date, the total imports of timber (hardwoods and softwoods) from Canada, the U.S.A., the U.S.S.R., Europe and the rest of the world, respectively, giving both the volume and the value; and also what steps are being taken to increase timber imports from countries outside the dollar area.
§ LORD CHORLEYThe noble Lord may be assured that it is the policy of His Majesty's Government to increase timber imports from countries outside the dollar area. As regards hardwood, in particular, this policy has met with considerable success. For example, imports of hardwood from Africa in 1945 and 1946 were 4.9 million cubic feet and 5.2 million cubic feet, respectively, as compared with 2.4 million cubic feet and 2.2 million cubic feet in 1937 and 1938994WA respectively. Further increases in hardwood production in British overseas territories are largely dependent on the delivery of sawmill and transport equipment.
The position is more difficult in the case of softwoods and in order to meet our requirements, substantial purchases from dollar areas have been necessary since the war. Every endeavour has been made to reopen pre-war European sources of supply but neither Finland nor Sweden has yet attained their pie-war exports, and supplies from Russia have so far been negligible. A major effort has, however, been undertaken in Western Germany, from which the equivalent of nearly 500,000 tons of softwood have been received during the first eight months of this year in the face of great difficulties.
The following table contains details of the imports of wood and timber into the United Kingdom during 1945, 1946 and January to September, 1947: 995WA
Quantities Value Hardwood. Softwood. Pitprops. Sleepers, veneers, and other descriptions. Total. Hardwood. Softwood. Pitprops. Sleepers, veneers, and other descriptions. Total. Thou. tons Thou. tons Thou. tons Thou. tons Thou, tons £000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 1945— Canada 141 1,029 276 165 1,611 1,703 17,547 1,961 3,648 24,859 U.S.A. 128 39 — 14 181 2,433 780 — 750 3,963 Soviet Union 0 39 27 — 66 1 616 195 — 812 Europe — 912 142 1 1,055 — 13,027 788 54 13,869 Rest of the World 131 14 39 4 188 1,609 305 249 147 2,310 Total 400 2,033 484 184 3,101 5,746 32,275 3,193 4,599 45,813 1946— Canada 138 880 652 96 1,766 1,891 15,728 5,771 1,936 25,326 United States of America 68 93 — 13 174 1,506 1,740 — 635 3,881 Soviet Union — 31 14 0 45 — 489 111 0 600 Europe 8 1,002 682 9 1,701 136 14,574 4,352 615 19,677 Rest of the World 156 52 29 7 244 2,767 1,928 340 1,226 6,261 Total 370 2,058 1,377 125 3,930 6,300 34,459 10,574 4,412 55,745 January-September, 1947— Canada 105 863 445 85 1,498 1,627 18,025 3,847 2,430 25,929 United States of America 106 248 — 55 409 2,323 5,371 — 1,935 9,629 Soviet Union — 17 32 0 49 — 321 277 0 598 Europe 68 1,252 910 15 2,245 908 18,490 6,438 719 26,555 Rest of the World 215 60 17 10 302 4,288 933 125 585 5,931 Total 494 2,440 1,404 165 4,503 9,146 43,140 10,687 5,669 68,642 House adjourned at seven minutes past six o'clock.
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