asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is now in a position to give particulars to the House of the communication which he received from the Canadian Government with reference to the importation into Great Britain of Russian timber under a fall Clause; and what action the British Government is taking thereon, having regard to the terms of Article 21 of the Ottawa Agreement?

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is now in a position to state what is the attitude of the Government with regard to the agreement entered into between Timber Distributors, Limited, and the Soviet Government for 400,000 standards of timber and the fall Clause in that agreement?

I would refer my hon. Friends to the reply I gave to the hon. Members for Maidstone (Mr. Bossom), Kensington, South (Sir W. Davison) and Wycombe (Sir A. Knox) on 56th February.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say when he will be in a position to make a statement to the House, so that Canadian importers may know what their position is in the matter? Does he realise that it is a matter of very great urgency?

Has the right hon. Gentleman any information with regard to the difference in price between Canadian timber sold in this country and this other timber?

No, Sir; I do not think that that has any direct bearing on the question on the Paper. With regard to the supplementary question of my hon. Friend the Member for South Kensington (Sir W. Davison), I would point out to him that the contract runs for only a year. If it were modified, the quantities already imported could, if necessary, be taken into account. In any case the importing season has not yet begun.

Surely there was a simple and straightforward issue last year. The right hon. Gentleman has had it before him now for a fortnight or so, and surely he can come to a decision?

I am afraid I cannot quite agree with my hon. and gallant Friend that it is a simple issue; it is a matter for negotiation.

When can I put down another question on the matter?