HC Deb 22 July 1946 vol 425 cc1654-5
17. Mr. De la Bère

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, with the impending decrease in our livestock, involving a lesser demand for straw on the farms, he will ensure that there is no cessation of the purchase of straw for papermaking and endeavour to secure an assurance that an increased tonnage of home-produced straw is used for paper-making to save shipping space and to conserve the payment in sterling or dollars which is called for by importing supplies from overseas.

Sir S. Cripps

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to the hon. and gallant Member for Richmond (Sir T. Dugdale) on Friday last.

Mr. De la Bère

Does the right hon. and learned Gentleman appreciate that there is considerable room for improvement by this Government in this matter, and in most other matters as well?

Sir S. Cripps

I am afraid that there is no more room for more straw in the paper-treating plant.