Mr. Vaneasked the President of the Board of Trade for what industries 1,330,000 cubic feet of birch timber was imported into this country during the first eight months of 1949 at a cost of £602,404; from what countries it was mainly imported; what were the main sizes; and why home grown birch cannot be substituted.
§ Mr. John EdwardsImports of birch were, in the main, special requirements for the manufacture of textile spools and bobbins and for sewing machines, all of which are of importance to our export trade. In addition, long lengths of birch were imported for the construction of certain vehicles. Birch is mainly imported from Canada, Finland, the United States of America and Sweden. There is not enough high quality home-grown birch to meet all these needs, largely because of the war-time drain on our reserves of standing timber.
Mr. Vaneasked the President of the Board of Trade what was the average price per cubic foot for birch timber imported into this country in 1949; and what is the maximum controlled price of home grown birch.
§ Mr. John EdwardsThe average landed value of imports of birch of all kinds as recorded in the Trade and Navigation Accounts during the first nine months of 1949 was 9s. per cubic foot.
58WThe maximum controlled price of homegrown birch, as specified in the Control of Timber No. 44 (Home-Grown Timber Prices) Order is 8s. 4d. per cubic foot.