asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will state the quantity of timber suitable for building purposes imported since the 1st January, 1946, and also what are the prospects of obtaining future supplies.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Timber for Building.
The total quantity of softwood timber which may be regarded as suitable for building purposes imported between the 1st January and 16th February, 1946, amounts to 1,280 petrograd standards of Deals and 256 petrograd standards of Pitch Pine. Approximately 525 petrograd standards are expected to arrive before the end of this month.
While every effort is being made to secure additional quantities of building timber, I am not, at the moment, in a position to give any reliable forecast of the prospects of obtaining further supplies in substantial quantities.
Can the Minister say how the number of standards which he has given in his reply would compare with the number of standards of similar timber imported in the last pre-war year for which he has figures?
It would be a very small proportion.