§ 29. Mr. Deedesasked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the continued scarcity of newsprint in this country, he will consider the possibility of including newsprint among the scarce raw materials, distribution of which is now the subject of discussion by the international commodity groups.
Mr. H. WilsonI would refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Sevenoaks (Mr. John Rodgers) on 8th February.
§ Mr. DeedesCan the right hon. Gentleman give an assurance that nothing which is done in this direction will diminish his own efforts to make long-term contracts on our own behalf, quite apart from what may be done in the international field?
Mr. WilsonI can certainly assure the hon. Member that in the last few days we have come to a decision to enable the Newsprint Supply Company to offer to Canada a larger contract than has yet been announced.
§ 39. Wing Commander Bullusasked the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement about the present position of newsprint in this country.
40. Air Commodore Harveyasked the President of the Board of Trade if he can now give an assurance that the future supply of newsprint will not bring about a further reduction in the size of newspapers or reduce circulation.
Mr. H. WilsonThe Newsprint Supply Company's estimates of imports of newsprint during January were, unfortunately, not realised, and stocks fell during the month from 72,000 tons to just under 65,000 tons. I understand that the shortfall is due to delay in shipments to this country. The Newsprint Rationing Committee has, therefore, decided temporarily to reduce consumption by a further 5 per cent.
While we can estimate the production of home mills with fair accuracy, we must depend upon the Newsprint Supply Company for estimates of imports. In the light of both these estimates and the level of actual stock, the Newsprint Rationing Committee considers whether any cut in consumption by newspapers is necessary.
602 The Chairman of the Rationing Committee advises me that if all their expectations of future supply are realised, the present size and circulation of newspapers can be maintained. But as stocks are below the danger line, current consumption is now dependent upon current supply; and any further disappointments in current supply, even of a temporary kind, must mean a corresponding reduction in current consumption.
§ Wing Commander BullusCan the right hon. Gentleman reconcile the acute position today with the statement made by the Parliamentary Secretary in answer to me on 23rd January when I asked:
whether the position is any better than it was three months ago?The Parliamentary Secretary replied:Yes, the supply position for the country is more definite."—[OFFICIAL REPORT. 23rd January, 1951; Vol. 483, c. 37.]
Mr. WilsonIt is very easy to reconcile those statements, because we always have to rely on the advice of the Newsprint Supply Company about supplies. They do the importing and say what they expect to come in. The statement of my hon. Friend was based on the latest statement of the Company. A few days later it did not look as if two or three ships would arrive and, therefore, they had to make that cut.
Air Commodore HarveyWhy is the right hon. Gentleman trying to blame the Newsprint Supply Company, when the blame is entirely with his own Government? [HON. MEMBERS: "No."] They have messed up the whole thing—[HON. MEMBERS: "No."] It is perfectly true. Will the right hon. Gentleman say how much longer the British people will have to tolerate ridiculously small newspapers? Will he also give an undertaking that at the earliest possible date exports of newsprint from this country will be reduced?
Mr. WilsonI was not in any way trying to blame the Newsprint Supply Company.—[HON. MEMBERS: "Oh."] I was answering the plea of the hon. and gallant Member for a reconciliation of two statements. We have to rely on the Company for information, but if they change the basis of their information it is only right that I should tell the House 603 As far as supply is concerned, we have now made dollars available for a contract up to the end of 1954 and the size of newspapers will depend on the progress made with that contract.
§ Mr. HollisWhat meaning does the Minister's hon. Friend attach to the word, "definite," because the whole position is indefinite?
Mr. WilsonMy hon. Friend's statement was obviously based on the assurance given from overseas about shipments. In one or two cases shipments have not come in.