§ 91. Mr. Marplesasked the Minister of Works whether he is satisfied that the stocks of softwood are sufficient to avoid dislocation in the building industry in the next few months; and what is the lowest stock of softwood which is sufficient to maintain adequate distribution to the building industry.
§ Mr. StokesI am assured by my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade that stocks should be sufficient to meet the requirements of the approved building programme. The lowest stock required to maintain adequate distribution to the building industry must depend upon the level of the building programme at the time, the demands for other services, and other fac-210W tors, which make it impossible to give any precise answer to the last part of the hon. Member's Question.
§ 97. Mr. Rentonasked the Minister of Works how much softwood will be required to enable all reasonable commitments in the United Kingdom to be met during 1950; how much of it is to be obtained from home grown timber resources; and how much is to be imported.
§ Mr. BottomleyI have been asked to reply. The rate of licensing of consumption of softwood in the latter part of the year has not yet been determined, but should suffice to meet all reasonable requirements. At least 30,000 standards of home-grown softwood will be available. The balance will be obtained from imported timber.