asked the Minister of Supply whether he intends to advise the public of the need for extreme care and discretion in the use of timber, especially with the object of avoiding as much as possible the destruction of such British woodlands as we possess and which is now actually in progress?

Considerable publicity has already been given to the necessity of economy in the consumption of timber for civil requirments. In general, the utilisation of timber is restricted to essential war requirements under a system of allocations and licences which was described in the answer given to a Question by the hon. Member for East Swansea (Mr. Mort) on 21st March. With regard to the last part of the Question, in present circumstances imports must be supplemented by increased quantities of home grown timber, but the programme of production has been prepared in agreement with the Forestry Commission, which is responsible, inter alia, for the conservation of home woodlands.

asked the Minister of Supply whether he is aware that the County Brook Mill Company, Foulridge, who are engaged on Government contracts at their Foulridge mill, are working overtime and being permitted to do so by the Home Office, whilst at the same time refusing to honour trade union agreements regarding overtime rates; and will he inform this company that such action is a breach of the Fair Wages Clause in Government orders and call for redress?

The County Brook Mill Company are not noted on the Ministry of Supply list of contractors, and hold no direct orders from my Department. I am not, therefore, in a position to take the action suggested by the hon. Member.

May I ask for your guidance, Mr. Speaker, as to how this information can be obtained? Will it be necessary for me to put a Question in similar terms to every Department with which this firm may have contracts, or could I obtain the information through the Home Office, which have granted an order for overtime?

The hon. Member had better try.

It is because of trying and trying again that I am seeking your advice. I have already put a Question to the Home Office, which has been answered, but has evaded the point which I am now putting to you. Therefore, I ask whether, with your permission, I can put that Question to the Home Office?

I give the hon. Member the same advice as I gave before—try.

In cases of this sort, which all of us have experienced, where it seems impossible to get any information in regard to the Fair Wages Clause, if a Question were put to the Prime Minister, in view of the fact that the Fair Wages Clause ought to be in every contract, whether it is carried out by subcontractors or not, should we be entitled to a reply?

The hon. Member should address questions of that kind to the Departments concerned.

One cannot find out which Department is concerned.