§ Mr. Hurdasked the President of the Board of Trade if he is satisfied with the proportion of the timber now coming from the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics which is suitable for house construction; and how the cost, c.i.f., of this timber compares with price asked for comparable Swedish supplies which the Timber Control declined to buy.
Mr. H. WilsonIn reply to the first part of the Question, the timber bought from the U.S.S.R. includes, as must all major contracts, types required for many uses in this country. I am satisfied that the proportion suitable for house construction is most satisfactory. The answer to the second part of the Question is that the Swedish prices asked seven or more months ago were f.o.b., and no specific quantity of timber was attached to them. If current freight rates from Sweden were added to these prices, the result would be lower than the c.i.f. price of Russian softwood, since freight rates from Russia have, for obvious reasons, increased steeply within recent weeks.
§ Mr. Nigel Fisherasked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the fact that timber scantlings most suitable for houses are 2 in. by 7 in., 2 in. by 4 in. and 2 in. by 3 in., he will state what proportion of timber in the Russian contract conforms to these sizes.