§ Mr. Tierneyasked the Secretary of State for Trade what percentage of our total timber requirements is made up of hard woods, and manufactured timber, respectively.
§ Mr. DeakinsIn 1973 hard woods and manufactured timber accounted respectively144W for some 14 per cent. and 18 per cent. of total United Kingdom timber requirements.
§ Mr. Tierneyasked the Secretary of State for Trade what is the average increase, as a percentage, in the price of imported timber over each of the past five years.
§ Mr. DeakinsThe information is given in the following table:
Percentage change in average price on previous year Year Imported softwood Imported hardwood Imported plywood 1969 … … +5.5 +5.9 +8.5 1970 … … +4.7 +4.1 +5.3 1971 … … +4.2 +6.6 +3.3 1972 … … +7.1 +15.1 +13.0 1973 … … +75.4 +61.1 +46.4 1974* … … +49.3 +35.1 +45.5 * November 1973 to October 1974 compared with the period November 1972 to October 1973.
§ Mr. Tierneyasked the Secretary of State for Trade what percentage of domestic timber requirements is produced from British forests.
§ Mr DeakinsIn 1973 some 16 per cent. of total United Kingdom timber requirements were met from British forests.
§ Mr. Tierneyasked the Secretary of State for Trade what percentage of total imported timber requirements is made up of soft woods.
§ Mr. DeakinsApproximately 87 per cent. by volume for 1973 and approximately 90 per cent. by volume for the period January-October 1974.
§ Mr. Tierneyasked the Secretary of State for Trade what proportion, as a percentage, the total import cost of timber represents in terms of the total imports bill of all commodities; and how this figure compares with that for 1969.
§ Mr. Deakins2.7 per cent. for the 12 months ended October 1974 and 26 per cent. for 1969.
§ Mr. Tierneyasked the Secretary of State for Trade what were the total import costs of timber in 1969 and for the last accountable trading year respectively; and what is the total imports cost forecast for the next 12 months period.
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§ Mr. Deakins£216 million cif for 1969 and £605 million cif for the period November 1973-Octobcr 1974. I would prefer not to venture an estimate for the future.