§ Lieutenant-Commander Gurney Braithwaiteasked the Minister of Works whether he is aware that timber dry rot is now costing £19,000,000 per annum, compared with £1,000,000 per annum prewar; and whether, in the case of replacements and new work under his control, he is taking advantage of the timber preservatives available to eradicate this trouble.
§ Mr. KeyI am not aware of the precise annual cost of timber dry rot, but I am fully alive to its seriousness. Officers of my Department are instructed in methods of construction that avoid danger of dry rot and in the use of timber preservatives.