§ 59. Mr. Skeffingtonasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will ask the Newsprint Supply Company to allocate more newsprint to local newspapers.
§ Mr. J. EdwardsAn increase in the consumption of newsprint by newspapers generally took place at the beginning of this year. The position is being kept under review, but I am at present unable to indicate when any further increase will be possible. When the time comes my right hon. Friend feels that an increase should be allowed equally to all categories of newspapers and not restricted to local newspapers.
§ Mr. SkeffingtonIs my hon. Friend aware that I did not put this Question down as a suggestion that there should be more space for the reporting of the speeches of Members of Parliament, although that may be a good thing, but there are large numbers of statutory notices which have to be given by local authorities, and of other notices, and the pressure upon the space of local papers is very high?
§ Mr. EdwardsThat is so, but I would ask my hon. Friend to bear in mind that the present consumption of paper by the provincial dailies and weekly papers is very much higher by comparison with prewar than the corresponding figures for the London dailies.
§ Mr. Charles WilliamsWill the hon. Gentleman, when taking the matter into consideration, remember that the holiday resorts want increased supplies at certain times of the year? May I have 986 an answer? If the hon. Gentleman will not give me an answer, I shall be obliged to raise the matter on the Adjournment.