§ 90. Colonel Crosthwaite-Eyreasked the President of the Board of Trade the quantity and value of wood flour imported into this country in 1950, which was of a character that could not be manufactured in this country.
§ Mr. RhodesThirteen thousand tons of wood flour, valued at £153,000, were imported into the United Kingdom in 1950. Figures of imports of wood flour are not sub-divided according to type in the United Kingdom Trade Returns.
§ 91. Colonel Crosthwaite-Eyreasked the President of the Board of Trade what action he has taken to ensure that existing plant in this country to produce wood flour is used to its full capacity.
§ Mr. RhodesAs explained in the reply to the hon. and gallant Member's Question on this subject on 8th February, wood flour is made from the waste (sawdust and chippings) arising from sawmilling activities. It follows that production of wood flour (and consequently utilisation of plant capacity) is limited to the amount of waste material available in this country. There is no control of such waste material but wood flour producers, in their own interests, are, naturally, alive to the importance of procuring all they can, while it is also to the advantage of sawmillers to sell the waste, which has arisen from their timber imports.
§ Colonel Crosthwaite-Eyreasked the President of the Board of Trade for what reasons he considers a 5 per cent. protective tariff sufficient to safeguard the 37W interests of wood flour manufacturers in this country; and whether, to secure the future of this industry, he will consider raising the protective tariff.
§ Mr. BottomleyThe total import duty chargeable on wood flour is 15 per cent.ad valorem. If the manufacturers concerned do not think that this rate is adequate, it is open to them to make application to the Board of Trade for an increase in the additional duty.