HC Deb 17 April 1956 vol 551 cc826-7
14. Mr. Dodds

asked the President of the Board of Trade, in view of the need for restraint in respect of imports, what consideration has been given to steps to encourage a greater effort to increase the collection in this country of scrap for use in the production of steel.

Mr. Low

The Iron and Steel Board have no reason to suppose that there is any large amount of ordinary scrap not being collected by scrap merchants, whose business it is. The recovery of some kinds of scrap presents special difficulties, in particular the separation of old tins from household refuse. The scrap merchants and the iron and steel industry are setting up district committees to deal with the problem of old tins, and my right hon. Friend the Minister of Housing and Local Government is about to send a letter to local authorities asking them to renew their efforts to help in the recovery of iron and steel scrap from household refuse.

15. Mr. Dodds

asked the President of the Board of Trade, in view of the saving to be effected in the importation of wood-pulp by making better use of the waste paper that is available in this country, if he will consider reintroducing an intensive Government waste paper salvage campaign to replace the present inadequate local campaigns.

Mr. Walker-Smith

The Waste Paper Recovery Association already co-operates with most of the local authorities and continues to achieve valuable results. I do not consider that any significant extra saving in imports of woodpulp would result from an intensive Government salvage campaign for waste paper.

Mr. Dodds

Do we need or do we not, more scrap metals and more waste paper? If we do, is the hon. and learned Gentleman not aware that there are substantial quantities that are not being reclaimed? Will he ask his right hon. Friend to take a more active leadership in putting it over to the nation that what the country needs today is to avoid the waste which is at present taking place?

Mr. Walker-Smith

I do not think the hon. Gentleman has the situation accurately. Stocks of waste paper are at present unusually high for this time of year. What we have to do is to get the maximum salvage of waste paper without creating storage difficulties.