asked the Minister of Supply whether he is aware of the difficulty that exporters are experiencing in obtaining timber for packing cases; and whether he anticipates any improvement in the available supplies at an early date?

I cannot hold out hope of any early improvement in the supplies of timber generally, but every effort is made to facilitate the provision of timber necessary for packing goods for export, and special instructions have been given to the area officers of the Timber Control on this point. In certain instances where the attention of the Control has been drawn to difficulties in obtaining such timber, owing to shortage of supplies, steps have been taken to overcome them, and I shall be glad to investigate any specific instances my hon. Friend may have in mind.