HC Deb 03 June 1947 vol 438 c28
56. Mr. Hurd

asked the President of the Board of Trade if it is his policy to encourage the use of home produced straw for paper making; and to what extent there has been a reduction in the use of straw for this purpose consequent on increased imports of esparto grass.

Sir S. Cripps

The choice between straw and esparto within the supplies available is left largely to the paper makers, and straw consumption has fallen since 1945 by about 50 per cent. The use of esparto rather than straw involves a considerably smaller consumption of coal per ton of paper produced.

Mr. Hurd

Does esparto grass involve the use of hard currency?

Sir S. Cripps

No.