Colonel Clarkeasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will give an assurance that he will prevent the market for timber in this country from being so swamped with imported material that neither market nor price remains for home-grown material.
Mr. AmoryAs my hon. Friend will be aware, softwood timber may now be imported without quantitative restriction from all sources of supply, and hardwood timber from non-dollar sources. My hon. Friend will also know that import licensing restrictions are intended to meet balance of payments difficulties, and I am sure he will understand that it would not be in accordance with the Government's policy to reimpose them for the purpose of protecting United Kingdom producers from foreign competition.