HC Deb 28 April 1952 vol 499 cc996-7
8. Major Guy Lloyd

asked the Minister of Supply what are the regulations concerning the offers of non-ferrous scrap for sale.

Mr. Sandys

The principal regulations covering the sale of non-ferrous scrap metals are embodied in the Copper, Lead and Zinc Distribution Order, 1951, and the relevant Price Orders, as well as in Section 86 of the Public Health Amendment Act, 1907, and Section 13 of the Prevention of Crimes Act, 1871.

Major Lloyd

Can my right hon. Friend say whether there is anything in these regulations to prevent a person buying or selling small quantities of scrap non-ferrous metal as my information is that below a certain quantity it is not possible either to buy or sell without committing a crime?

Mr. Sandys

Yes, it is true that the Prevention of Crimes Act, 1871, limits the sale of small quantities of non-ferrous scrap—in the case of lead below 1 cwt. It does perhaps to some extent discourage people from handing in scrap because they do not obtain money for it, but, on the other hand, it has definitely been shown to discourage crime. It is a matter of weighing the one consideration against the other.

Major Lloyd

Now that we have a really progressive Government would it not be possible to do something about this in view of the fact that a constituent of mine was fined by the magistrates for breaking this fantastic and obsolete law?

Mr. George Chetwynd

Would the Minister take every step to make the sale of this scrap very difficult, as the Act deters the stripping of churches and schools of very valuable lead?

Mr. Sandys

As I said, there are advantages and disadvantages on both sides and I am not yet sufficiently convinced that the advantages of repealing the provision outweigh the disadvantages.