HC Deb 15 April 1948 vol 449 cc1147-8
22. Mr. Odey

asked the President of the Board of Trade what are the regulations with regard to the collection of household bones by local authorities; and which local authorities in Great Britain are under direction to conserve and collect these bones.

Mr. H. Wilson

A requirement to collect household bones is included in the general salvage directions under Regulation 54B of the Defence (General) Regulations 1939, which have been given to all urban and rural local authorities for districts with populations exceeding 5,000 and 10,000, respectively. Household bones have a very important raw material value in the production of glues, fats and fertilisers. I appeal, therefore, to local authorities and the public to increase the collections, which have now fallen to a very low level.

Mr. Odey

Is the President of the Board of Trade aware that owing to our inadequate methods of collection there are 25,000 tons of bones wasted annually in this country, and that these bones are replaced by imported bones?

Mr. Speaker

The hon. Member appears to be giving information, and not asking for it.

Mr. Odey

Would the Minister take more positive steps to see that these bones are collected?

Mr. Wilson

Anything I can do with the local authorities—and, of course, we do not collect the bones ourselves—will be done.

Lieut.-Commander Gurney Braithwaite

Can the President of the Board of Trade assist us by defining the term "household bones." Is it "the skeleton in the cupboard"?

Mr. Wilson

I should want notice of that Question.