§ 2.42 p.m.
§ LORD ARCHIBALDMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Second Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have taken note of the representations of the Joint Waste Paper Advisory Council regarding the dangerously low levels of waste-paper stocks, and whether they are taking any action to encourage local authorities to collect waste paper separately from other refuse.]
§ THE MINISTER OF STATE, BOARD OF TRADE (LORD BROWN)My Lords, I have seen a statement recently issued by the Joint Waste Paper Advisory Council. It points out that the substantial increase in consumption of waste-paper in 1968 was achieved partly by reduction of stocks. It recommends that local authorities should expand collections of wastepaper, in consultation with their mill and merchant outlets, on the basis of long-term contracts at realistic prices.
Demand for waste-paper is not constant, and past experience has demonstrated the need for better gearing of recovery to demand. The Joint Waste Paper Advisory Council, which is composed of representatives of paper and board mills, waste-paper merchants and local authorities, was formed to keep trends of demand and recovery under review, so as to give advance warning of future requirements. I welcome the efforts of the Joint Waste Paper Advisory Council to provide authoritative forecasts of future demand; these will be especially valuable if they can be broken down by geographical areas. I particularly welcome the emphasis which the Joint Waste Paper Advisory Council places on long-term contracts. I am convinced that contracts which are realistic in terms of duration, price and basic tonnage are the effective way to encourage local authorities to 1261 recover the waste-paper that the mills require.
§ LORD ARCHIBALDMy Lords, I thank my noble friend for that Answer. May I ask him whether he is aware that there seems to be some controversy in the London area as to whether the responsibility lies with the Greater London Council or with the individual boroughs? There are some areas in London, as I think my noble friend will accept, that have a high proportion of paper disposal. Will he make representations to the G.L.C. to permit borough councils in these areas of high paper disposal to opt out of any G.L.C. general scheme and institute their own collection of newspapers, which could be of a very high order indeed.
§ LORD BROWNMy Lords, I am not informed in detail on the matter which the noble Lord has raised, but I will have it investigated and, if it suits him, I will write to him on the matter.
§ LORD BLYTONMy Lords, could not my noble friend help waste-paper collections by destroying the White Paper that was issued yesterday on the salaries of Chairmen of nationalised Boards, which will surely destroy the Government's prices and incomes policy?