HC Deb 05 December 1944 vol 406 cc342-4
38. Mr. Erskine-Hill

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is the purpose of the setting up of the Moberley Committee; and whether that Committee is to decide the type of book which it is proper to encourage by a grant of paper.

Mr. Dalton

This Committee advises me on the use of the small reserve of paper set aside for books of special importance which publishers cannot produce from their own quotas. The Com- mittee's recommendations are largely confined to reprints of standard scientific, educational and religious books.

Mr. Erskine-Hill

However well the Committee may work, does not this imply an interference with what is published, upon which a great many are agreed; and in view of that fact, will the right hon. Gentleman, as and when extra supplies become available, see that both the pool and those particular cases of individuals receive the greater part of the extra supply?

Mr. Dalton

My hon. and learned Friend has another Question which covers part of that point. This Committee consists of publishers who advise me what books of special importance could be published by publishers who have already exceeded their quota. I think it is a good Committee, and it has done very useful work. The total of paper supply in the reserve is only 8½ per cent. of the total allocated to books.

Mr. Wootton-Davies

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that there is no need for all this shortage of paper and that we are burning an immense amount of straw, which could be utilised for making paper?

39. Mr. Erskine-Hill

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is the intended destination of the increase in the paper ration for the current licensing period; and if he intends increasing the quantity given to the pool.

Mr. Dalton

Of the extra 1,433 tons for the current four-monthly period, 800 tons are for the Services Post-war Education Scheme, 433 tons go to increase the publishers' quotas from 40 to 42½ per cent. of pre-war usage and the remaining 200 tons are for the special reserve, on the use of which the Moberley Committee advise me.

Mr. Erskine-Hill

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether the members of the pool were consulted on the proportion which could be given, and if not, would it not be much better that they should have a larger proportion?

Mr. Dalton

I think that the allocation is as fair as we can make it, in view of the great pressure that we get, for example, for the production of post-war education books, the demand for which cannot be met by publishers from the ordinary permit.

Mr. Graham White

Has the right hon. Gentleman been advised that, owing to an alteration in the regulation with regard to over makes, the addition to supplies of the recent allocation will be almost negligible; and is he aware that the suggestion that this is any effective contribution to meeting the demand for books is as sensible as trying to irrigate the Sahara with a watering-can?

Mr. Dalton

The position is not as bad as the hon. Gentleman suggests, and I think that the new allocation will result in a general increase. I will gladly discuss the matter with him, as I know he has it very much in mind.

Rear-Admiral Beamish

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that it is not possible to obtain anywhere in London dictionaries either Spanish or French, and will he divert some paper for that purpose?

Mr. Dalton

All that I can do is to pass on that information to the Moberley Committee, which I shall be very glad to do.

Mr. Burke

Is any of this paper going to the manufacture of boots and shoes?

Mr. Erskine-Hill

On a point of Order, Mr. Speaker. May I give notice that, in view of the importance of this subject and in order to give the right hon. Gentleman an opportunity of making perhaps a clearer and fuller statement, I propose to raise the matter on the Adjournment at the earliest possible occasion?

Mr. Speaker

I have often pointed out that it is not a point of Order when notice is given to raise a matter on the Adjournment.