HC Deb 01 April 1943 vol 388 c445

Amendment made: In page 8, line 39, leave out from "shall," to the word "be," in line 40.—[Mr. Bevin.]

Sir H. Williams

I beg to move, in Clause 10, page 8, line 41, to leave out from "for" to the end of the Sub-section, and to insert "twelve months."

From every quarter we are urged by the Ministry of Supply to salvage documents and to scrap our records as soon as possible in order that they might be pulped and turned into a fresh form of paper. Recently this House has had Motions in front of it arising out of the question of destroying records kept by this House in order that paper might be available for salvage.

Mr. Montague

Was not the hon. Member supporting only a few days ago the idea of a General Election, which would have meant an extremely large use of paper?

Sir H. Williams

I have no recollection of supporting a General Election a few days ago. I was one of those opposed to having a register because it would waste an incredible amount of paper. Only to-day I opposed the putting of photographs upon registration cards because of the amount of waste involved. Therefore, my hon. Friend's interruption seems singularly inappropriate. I make the suggestion in the Amendment purely on practical grounds that unless there is proved necessity for keeping these documents for longer than 12 months they should be turned into salvage.

Mr. Leslie

We have already decided that action can be taken over a two-year period. Records ought therefore to be kept for that period and not for a shorter period.

Amendment negatived.

Clause, as amended, ordered to stand part of the Bill.

Clause 11 ordered to stand part of the Bill.