HC Deb 04 February 1942 vol 377 cc1181-2
47. Mr. Hannah

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Supply whether, in sending books and papers from libraries and public offices to be pulped for the national effort, care is being exercised not hastily to destroy any records or documents of value?

The Joint Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Supply (Mr. Harold Macmillan)

The desirability of preserving from re-pulping any records or documents of special value has been carefully borne in mind, and the support of the Ministry of Supply has been given to public appeals to that effect by the British Records Association. The Library Association gives special attention to this matter when turning out library books and papers for salvage, and the attention of Government Departments has also been drawn to the subject.

Mr. Hannah

Can we be assured that what is printed on the new paper produced will be of more value to the world than what is scrapped?

Mr. Macmillan

After my long experience, I should be the last man to give that assurance.