§ 1. Mr. Keelingasked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in order to increase the supply of waste paper and cardboard saved for paper mills, he will arrange for a few prosecutions under existing by-laws of persons throwing paper and cardboard down in the streets and public parks.
§ The President of the Board of Trade (Mr. Harold Wilson)The by-laws to which the hon. Member refers are made by local authorities primarily to prevent litter, and I must leave any question of enforcement to them. I hope, however, that the public will co-operate in keeping paper and cartons for salvage purposes.
§ Mr. KeelingIs the President of the Board of Trade aware that, according to official estimates one million tons of paper and cardboard is thrown down in the streets every year and lost to the paper mills, and £2 million is spent in picking it up; and does he not think that too high a price to pay for freedom—freedom to make a mess?
§ Mr. WilsonI agree that they are extremely high figures, and I hope that local authorities as well as the public will co-operate in the way the hon. Member suggests.
§ Mr. KeelingWill not the right hon. Gentleman do something about it?