§ Q3. Mrs. Joyce Butlerasked the Prime Minister if he will make it the policy of Her Majesty's Government to encourage everyone who is able to participate in a social contract which will include conservation of scarce resources, collection and recycling of waste materials, work within local communities, and personal involvement in a national effort to combine the fight against inflation with progress towards a fairer and more co-operative society.
§ The Prime MinisterYes, Sir. This is in fact already the Government's policy, as set out in Cmnd. 5727, War on Waste —a Policy for Reclamation. My hon. Friend will be aware of the announcement by my hon. Friend the Undersecretary of State for the Environment on Monday that, as a first step towards achieving the objects set out in that paper, the Government have established the Waste Management Advisory Council, which held its first meeting yesterday.
§ Mrs. ButlerIs the Prime Minister aware that many people are anxious to help the country's survival effort and would welcome his initiative in setting out a practical programme in which they could participate? Will he consider making a television broadcast, launching such a national self-help project, and also urgently examine any departmental red tape or other factors which may prevent its success and get them removed?
§ The Prime MinisterI agree with my hon. Friend about the importance of this matter. It is important both environmentally and in terms of our balance of payments. I think that my hon. Friend will have seen in the White Paper the enormous figures involved in the loss of 1808 foreign exchange due to the fact that materials are wasted in this country.
Regarding the reference to voluntary organisations, I believe that when this thing really gets moving many voluntary organisations will want to play their parts in it. Many of them are doing so already on their own initiative, but in many cases the councils or the industrial organisations are not geared to take full advantage of what they are doing.
We certainly shall need a great deal more publicity on the matter. We are considering what can be done in that direction. I am sure that there will be general support from both sides of the House and the country as a whole. It is a question of ensuring collection of the waste as well as preventive action because of the enormous waste in packaging and other things which place such a heavy burden on our imports.
§ Mr. ThorpeReferring to scarce resources, I should like to ask the Prime Minister specifically about oil. Is he aware that we welcome the conservation measures announced by his right hon. Friend, but that they will save only £350 million and will still leave this country with a bill for £2,000 million for imported oil? Since the Government have rejected straightforward rationing and prefer to have rationing by the purse, will the Prime Minister give serious consideration to the possibility of a two-tier pricing system, so that there may be a limited allocation for people who have to travel to work, particularly in rural areas, to ensure that they are not penalised by the increase in price?
§ The Prime MinisterThe last point, which is important though not original, is being considered with other proposals. My right hon. Friend, in his announcement of these matters, made it clear that it was an interim proposal. Indeed, I am sure that he and all others concerned will welcome suggestions from the right hon. Gentleman and anyone else in the country about these matters. The one mentioned by the right hon. Gentleman is important.
I took the Question on the Order Paper to refer to waste in general and to a very wide area of importance outside energy. In a sense, I would say that we should 1809 concentrate very much on energy conservation, but that does not weaken the force of the argument in the non-oil and energy spheres set out in the White Paper to which I referred.
§ Mr. RossiIs the Prime Minister aware that recent difficulties in the marketing of waste paper have proved a discouragement to local authorities and voluntary organisations which have been proceeding with enthusiasm in that area? Is he further aware that Ministers in the Department of the Environment have not responded to a proposal that the Government could help by making long-term marketing arrangements for the disposal of waste paper, and for storage in times of plenty, so that there may be an even flow and proper marketing arrangements?
§ The Prime MinisterI am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for his constructive suggestion. All the facts set out, which cover a period of years and came to a head in the White Paper, suggest a whole series of frustrations and of people leaving things to be done by others. There is frustration for people who save paper which is not collected by the local authority, and the local authority is frustrated because there are no means for disposing of it. All these matters are important. That is why we have tried to get them together in this Waste Management Advisory Council. What the hon. Gentleman said is of importance. If he has any specific proposals to make, I am sure that my right hon. Friend will be happy to receive them.