Earl of Dalkeithasked the President of the Board of Trade what proportion of the timber and processed timber consumed in the United Kingdom is currently being imported; what is its annual cost; what percentage of it comes from countries with whom Great Britain has an adverse trade balance; and what steps he will take to raise incentives to home-grown timber producers in such a manner as to increase production and make the best possible use of what is produced.
§ Mr. DarlingImports as a proportion of the quantity consumed in the United Kingdom in the first nine months of 1967 are estimated as follows: softwood (including pulpwood) four-fifths; hardwood (including pulpwood), two-thirds; plywood, over 95 per cent.; wood chipboard, two-fifths. Imports of timber in 1966 amounted to £242 million c.i.f. Information is not available for the close estimation of the balance of trade with individual countries. The question of incentives for private forestry is one which is kept under review by my right hon. Friends, the Secretary of State for Scotland, the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and the Secretary of State for Wales.