§ 1. Mr. BOTTOMLEYasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that, owing to the reduced restric- 838 tion upon the exportation of paper from Scandinavia of a kind which does not come from portions of the Empire, over thirty British paper mills have now closed down and thousands of men and women have been thrown out of work; that nearly a hundred other mills are working on short time and may close any day, involving the risk of a further 20,000 men and women being thrown out; and whether he proposes to take any action in regard thereto?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the BOARD of TRADE (Mr. Bridgeman)I am not aware what restrictions, if any, exist on the exportation of paper from Scandinavia, neither have I heard of any recent removal of any such restrictions. If the hon. Member refers to the reduced restriction on imports of paper into this country, I am not in a position to add anything at present to the answer which I gave to the hon. and gallant Member for Bournemouth. My right hon. Friend has instituted some further inquiries and the hon. Member may rest assured that the question of employment in the paper mills is receiving careful consideration.
§ 18. Mr BENNETTasked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware of the stagnation in the paper-making industry in Kent which has followed the recent reduction in the restrictions on the imports of foreign paper, and of the closing down of several paper mills in that county; and whether he will consider the advisability of postponing the removal of the remaining restrictions contemplated at the end of April?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANSo far as time has permitted the making of inquiries, the reduction in restrictions has not been followed by the closing of mills in Kent. Mills in that county are in some instances short of orders, but there are certain conspicuous exceptions to this: on the whole, the paper industry in Kent is not suffering to the same degree as in other parts of the country. The position of the paper industry is under consideration.
§ Commander BELLAIRSIs the hon. Gentleman aware that I have had representations from every single paper mill in my Constituency quite contrary to the answer he has given?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANI could not be aware of what representations the hon. Gentleman had made to him. My information, 839 as I have said, is not entirely up-to-date, because I have not been able to make the inquiries in the short time I have had.
§ Mr. ROWLANDSWill the hon. Gentleman make his inquiries up-to-date as the whole of the representations are quite contrary to what he has stated.
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANIt would be very much of a help if the two hon. Members who have so much information would give it to me.
§ Mr. BILLINGMay I ask whether there are still restrictions on the use of paper by the Government?
Mr. KENNEDY JONESIs the hon. Gentleman aware that a number of paper mills in Scotland have been closed?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANNo, Sir, I am not aware of that.
25. Captain SHAWasked the President of the Board of Trade whether the 75 per cent, of pre-war paper imports which is allowed in March and April is 75 per cent, of the amount imported in two months of the pre-war period or 75 per cent, of the amount imported in four months of the pre-war period?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANThe 75 per cent, of pre-war paper imports which is allowed in March and April is 75 per cent, of the amount imported in two months of the pre-war period, and not in four months.
§ Lieutenant-Colonel Sir J. NORTON GRIFFITHSIs the hon. Gentleman aware that the majority of this paper now being imported is coming from neutral countries, and will he recommend for the consideration of the Government the industries of this country being protected against the importation of such paper from neutral countries?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANThe whole matter is under consideration.
27. Captain SHAWasked the President of the Board of Trade if, before he decided to remove restrictions on imports of manufactured paper, he ascertained from the paper trade whether the trade would be able to reduce the price of home-produced paper when given a sufficient supply of raw material to increase their output?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANInquiries were made and conferences were held, all of which 840 went to show that even with unrestricted import of raw material mills could not produce paper at prices quoted for imported paper for several months to come.
Lieutenant-Colonel Sir J. HOPEMay I ask from whom he inquired, and whether it was not stated that the prices could be reduced?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANThe inquiries were made by the Paper Controller. I did not say the prices could not be reduced: I said they could not be reduced to the prices quoted for imported paper.
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANI imagine it was to the paper manufacturers, but I will find out.
§ Lieutenant-Colonel A. MURRAYIs there any reason why paper should not receive the same protection as that afforded to all other industries?