§ 27. Mr. Dribergasked the President of the Board of Trade under what conditions it is now possible to set up in the business of publishing books?
§ Mr. DaltonThe practical difficulty is, not how to set up in business, but how to obtain a supply of paper. Paper for books is allocated, as a general rule, only to publishers who were in business before the war.
§ Mr. DribergWhat are the exceptions to that general rule?
§ Mr. DaltonThe exceptions are operated not by me but by the Minister of Supply. I think perhaps it would be more convenient if a further Question were put down, but broadly it is not desired to encourage people to set up in publishing at present if they were not in it before the war.
§ Mr. DribergCan the right hon. Gentleman explain how it is that there has been a large crop of mushroom publishers recently, and where they get their paper from?
§ Mr. DaltonPerhaps my hon. Friend will let me know about that mushroom crop.
§ Mr. John DugdaleIs it not a fact that firms which do not want the paper sell 2072 their quotas to firms which want to start new businesses, and is not this a form of black market?
§ Mr. DaltonI do not think it can be accurately described as a form of black market, but I shall be glad to look into it if any hon. Gentleman with knowledge of the subject will give me particulars.