§ 3. Lieut.-Colonel Liptonasked the Minister of State, Board of Trade, as representing the Minister of Materials, with what newspaper representatives and newsprint manufacturers he has been discussing the import of additional Canadian newsprint.
§ The Minister of State, Board of Trade (Mr. Heathcoat Amory)The discussions have been with the Board of the Newsprint Supply Company. My noble Friend has had no discussions on this with newsprint manufacturers either at home or abroad, but I understand that there have been discussions between the Newsprint Supply Company and their various suppliers.
§ Lieut.-Colonel LiptonIs the Minister aware that better results would have been achieved if negotiations with all the interested parties had been commenced earlier, and before many millions of dollars had been wasted on Canadian barley, which we could easily have done without, so that that money could have been spent on newsprint which we very much need?
§ Sir H. WilliamsWe cannot eat newsprint.
Mr. AmoryI am not sure that I can accept the conclusions which the hon. and gallant Gentleman arrives at on that point.
§ Commander DonaldsonCan my right hon. Friend give an assurance that the President of the Board of Trade will be 808 prepared to meet the Canadian newsprint manufacturers when he goes to Canada in May of this year?
Mr. AmoryI cannot give my hon. and gallant Friend an assurance on that point, because I have no idea at the moment what my right hon. Friend's programme will be.