§ 42. Mr. James Callaghanasked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware of the adverse comment in South Wales about the waste of paper by Little-wood's and Sherman's pools, who have flooded the area with circulars; and on what basis paper is supplied for this purpose.
§ Sir S. CrippsUnder the Control of Paper No. 70 Order, 1945, any person may distribute gratuitously in any period of three months up to 20 per cent, of the weight of advertising circulars relating to his trade or business distributed in the corresponding three months in the year ended 31st August, 1939. Pool Promoters are covered by the Order and I have no reason to believe that they are infringing its terms.
§ Mr. CallaghanWill my right hon. and learned Friend consider, next time he makes a further order, restricting paper to these people while there are many more worth-while institutions?
§ Mr. W. ShepherdWill the Minister say whether Government Departments are controlled by the same regulations?
§ Sir S. CrippsNo, Sir.
§ Mr. KirbyIs it not a fact that these people are using only 3 per cent. of their prewar paper, that they were encouraged to distribute these circulars in order to deal with the unemployment problem, and cannot that be increased?
§ Sir S. CrippsThey are getting a very small quantity.
§ Mr. Skeffington-LodgeWill my right hon. and learned Friend bear in mind that the whole trend of the activities of the pools is anti-social?
§ Sir S. CrippsThat is not a matter which we can take into account in regard to the distribution of paper.