Salvage (Hansard, 27 October 1949)

§ 17. Air-Commodore Harvey
asked the President of the Board of Trade what provisions he is making with local authorities for the collection of salvage; and why such collection has ceased in some parts of the country.

20. Colonel Dower
asked the President of the Board of Trade what arrangements are being made for the disposal of waste paper collected by local authorities.

§ 33. Mr. Longden
asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware of the big stocks of waste paper that were accumulated by local authorities before he removed the order to collect it; if householders must destroy their waste paper; if he is aware that waste collecting firms, as for instance in Birmingham, in face of the considerable increase in the importation of wood pulp, are finding it does not pay to handle any but the higher qualities of waste; and what action he is contemplating in this situation.

§ The President of the Board of Trade (Mr. Harold Wilson)
I would refer the hon. Members to the replies given to my hon. Friend the Member for Cambridge (Mr. Symonds) and the hon. Member for Darwen (Mr. Prescott) on 30th June and 18th October, respectively.

§ Air-Commodore Harvey
Does the right hon. Gentleman think that the relaxation of the Government's attitude in this matter has given people the right idea about the necessity to be careful in this regard; and in this economic crisis is it not more than ever necessary to conserve salvage and make the fullest use of it?

§ Mr. Wilson
This is principally a reference to paper salvage, and, as I have made clear on previous occasions, the collection of various mixed and unspecified grades of paper has run beyond the capacity of merchants to absorb it.

Colonel Dower
Surely the right hon. Gentleman is making inquiries as to when the demand is likely to arise again; and can he not in the meantime co-operate with local authorities, wherever possible, to see whether storage facilities can be obtained, so that when the demand does arise again the paper will be available?

§ Mr. Wilson
As the House knows, the paper situation has eased very considerably in the last few months. The advice we have given local authorities is to keep in close touch with local merchants to see at what rate they will be able to absorb this stock.

§ Mr. Mitchison
What about the copies of the little book "The Right Road for Britain," now that it has been disowned and is no longer in use?

§ Sir William Darling
Would the right hon. Gentleman consider exploring the possibility of the further use of waste paper, of which there is a great quantity, and the alternative uses for which might well be a matter for inquiry in his Department?

§ Mr. Beswick
Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that some local authorities are told by merchants that the reason the salvage is not wanted is because of the importation of wood pulp and paper-making material; and is he quite certain that we cannot make further savings in imports by the fuller use of paper salvage?

§ Mr. Wilson
The pulp and wood pulp that is coming into the country is coming from soft currency sources. Indeed, for the most part I am having to resist pressure by the countries concerned for us to take larger quantities of the pulp and wood pulp.