114.
asked the President of the Board of Trade what quantity of sawn softwood it was hoped to obtain from Finland this year; for what quantity contracts have so far been placed; what is the maximum quantity for which contracts are likely to be placed this year; and if he will publish a table showing the prices of the different qualities of sawn softwood for which contracts have been placed in Finland this year.
The Finnish Trade Agreement mentioned 225,000 standards which the Finnish Sawmillers' Association have agreed to supply. It is not the practice to state the contract position with suppliers with whom negotiations are in progress, to anticipate future contracts or to state prices paid to any supplier. We cannot therefore publish the table requested.
115.
asked the president of the Board of Trade what proportion of the current shipments of timber from Scandinavian and Russian ports will be carried in British ships.
I regret that the information asked for is not available. In accordance with its normal procedure, chartering will be effected by the Timber Control in the open market. The proportion of British ships employed will depend upon the offers received from British shipowners, and I can assure the hon. Member that preference will be given wherever possible to such offers.
asked the President of the Board of Trade for how many standards of sawn soft wood contracts have so far been placed abroad this year; for how many standards he hopes to place contracts this year; and how these two figures compare with figures on similar dates during each of the last four years.
It is not the practice to state the contract position with suppliers with whom negotiations are still in progress or to anticipate future contracts. I cannot, therefore, publish the comparison for which the hon. and gallant Member asks.