asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps have been taken to acquire the 500 standards of Finnish timber suitable for making herring barrels which were offered to the Timber Control about 1st March.

If the hon. Member is referring to an offer made by a Danish merchant, the staves concerned are of the same kind as could be procured direct from Finland. Tests are being made on sample barrels, on behalf of the Herring Industry Board, to determine their suitability for use in this country.

Will my right hon. and learned Friend see that a fair allocation of this timber is made to the box-making industry in Aberdeen, where several hundreds of people are out of employment for want of material?

This material is for barrels and not for boxes.