§ 21. Mr. Dribergasked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that those local authorities which co-operate most actively in salvage collection are penalised, because whereas the costs of such collection have increased substantially, the controlled price which may be charged for salvaged waste paper has remained unaltered at £6 7s. 6d. a ton; and if, in order to encourage such efforts to aid the national economy, he will consider alleviating the burden on local authorities by raising the controlled price of salvaged paper by making a more adequate collection allowance or in some other way.
§ Mr. H. WilsonThe price to which my hon. Friend refers is the maximum price for mixed waste papers. There are, of course, higher prices for the better grades. An allowance has for some time been paid by the Government to local authorities. The basis of this allowance has been changed as from the beginning of this year and the scale of payment is now graded according to quantity sold, the highest rate being £1 a ton. Collections by local authorities in recent months have shown an encouraging increase, and I hope that this arrangement which is preferable to any general increase in price will provide a further stimulus.
§ Mr. DribergWill my right hon. Friend consider the evidence which I sent him last week from quite a small local authority which finds itself burdened with a very heavy deficit merely because it has responded to his appeal to intensify these collections? Does he realise how discouraging that is?
§ Mr. WilsonI will certainly consider very carefully the evidence which my right hon. Friend has sent, but I am quite satisfied that this is a problem which would not be solved by any general increase in the rate of pay.