asked the President of the Board of Trade what was the total cost of mining timber imported into this country for the years 1929 and 1930; and will he say which are the three countries where we get the greatest supply from?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the full tables of imports of pit-props given in reply to the question asked on 17th February by my hon. Friend the Member for Barnsley (Mr. Potts), of which I am sending him a copy.

Is any effort being made by the Board of Trade to encourage pit-props from different parts of the Empire to come into the country?

A certain amount has been done on that point, but I should require notice as to how far these supplies really compete with Empire products.

Do the figures the right hon. Gentleman has given include re-exports to this country from Soviet Russia?

I cannot say off-hand as to re-exports. The figures certainly include the imports from Russia, among other countries, for the four years in question.

Can my hon. Friend say whether the importers are sitting beside the right hon. Gentleman opposite?