HC Deb 16 June 1955 vol 542 cc734-5
7. Lieut.-Colonel Lipton

asked the President of the Board of Trade when he will end the rationing of newsprint.

Mr. P. Thorneycroft

I regret I am not yet able to say when it might be possible to revoke the existing controls on newsprint.

Lieut.-Colonel Lipton

Why does the President of the Board of Trade keep on providing one lame substitute after another for continuing rationing 10 years after the war? How does it come about that the Government still believe in rationing newsprint when dollars have been wasted on so many other imports which could be obtained from non-dollar sources?

Mr. Thorneycroft

While naturally sharing the hon. and gallant Gentleman's dislike of controls, which I appreciate—

Lieut.-Colonel Lipton

Rationing.

Mr. Thorneycroft

—controls and rationing, I must say that the question whether we can drop all control of the import of newsprint depends upon the balance-of-payments situation and other matters which we shall be discussing shortly in the general debate. So long as we have control of imports, it is necessary to have some form of rationing arrangement. In so far as this can be taken over by the industry, I should be very happy.

Mr. Woodburn

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the lovely pictures of bathing beauties in the newsprint are the only signs of summer that we see?

Mr. Thorneycroft

The right hon. Gentleman must not press me to say what ought to go into the newspapers.