Colonel Clarkeasked the Minister of State, Board of Trade, as representing the Minister of Materials, if he will inform the House under what terms and at what price he hires the land on which the national timber stockpile is at present stored.
Mr. AmoryThe sites on which the timber stockpile is stored fall into three categories. Where the wharfingers appointed by the Ministry of Materials store timber in their own established timber yards, they are paid a fixed rent. In other cases, the rent is a matter for negotiation, either with the wharfinger, if he obtains the site, or with the owner, if it is obtained through the Ministry of Works.
Colonel Clarkeasked the Minister of State, Board of Trade, as representing the Minister of Materials, what steps are 292W being taken to prevent deterioration of the stored timber in the national stockpile.
Mr. AmoryAll timber in the national stockpile is reported on every six weeks by the firms responsible to the Ministry of Materials for its storage and supervision. In addition, every site is inspected by the Ministry's inspectors at least three times a year. Whenever these reports or inspections reveal that there is danger of deterioration, measures such as repiling are taken to arrest it, or, where these appear impracticable, the timber is sold.