§ THE EARL OF CROMARTIEMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government whether, in view of the alleged shortage of paper and the heavy burden placed upon the under-staffed Post Office, they will do something to restrict the flood of unsolicited advertising matter which makes up so much of the daily mail deliveries.
§ THE PARLIAMENTARY UNDERSECRETARY OF STATE, DEPARTMENT OF TRADE AND INDUSTRY (THE EARL OF LIMERICK)No, my Lords. Her Majesty's Government do not consider the present shortage of paper requires them to intervene in the normal commercial practices of the firms concerned. So far as the Post Office is concerned, I understand that the noble Lord's suggestion would not afford any significant relief, since the postman has to cover the whole of his delivery route whatever the quantity of mail he carries.
§ THE EARL OF CROMARTIEMy Lords, while thanking the Minister for his reply, which I find entirely unsatisfactory, may I say that we know as a fact that postmen are extremely overloaded at the moment. Are the Government aware that Scotland is lending postmen to England in order to cover duties over the Christmas period? This subject is of great importance to very many people; most of us suffer from this overload of unnecessary paper. One must think of the postmen sometimes.
§ THE EARL OF LIMERICKMy Lords, the shortage of staff does indeed cause inconvenience—that is well appreciated—but it is a fact that the rebate traffic, which is the means by which this unsolicited advertising matter is sent, is not handled at the peak times. It is further a fact that the Post Office would not welcome any measure which would lead to a permanent loss of their revenue-earning activities.
§ BARONESS STOCKSMy Lords, do Her Majesty's Government realise that this is not only a question of the Post Office but a very serious question of refuse disposal? Your Lordships would find it hard to realise the tonnage of paper that has to be carried away from my house and disposed of.
§ THE EARL OF LIMERICKMy Lords, there is indeed some problem in the supply of paper, but the serious problem is in the area of newsprint. There have been very few complaints about other paper supplies; and of course newsprint is not involved in this traffic.
§ LORD DERWENTMy Lords, can my noble friend say whether it is possible to repulp for newspaper work, this mass of paper, which becomes refuse as soon as it arrives?
§ THE EARL OF LIMERICKMy Lords, I am afraid I cannot without notice, but the suggestion can certainly be looked at.
§ LORD HALEMy Lords, may I ask for the Government's protection of individual rights? Can arrangements be made by which the individual himself can say that he does not want to receive this matter, and thus protect an old age pensioner like myself from being constantly pestered to spend £200 or £300 on silver and gold plaques? Is there not a simple way of preserving the freedom of the individual, the liberty of communication, and doing away with what is an intolerable nuisance?
§ THE EARL OF LIMERICKMy Lords, this is a matter that was looked at by the Younger Committee. There are, of course, people who dislike receiving this quantity of unsolicited material. Unfortunately, there is no easy method of communicating the desire of those, like the noble Lord, who feel that way to those who are the originators of the paper.
§ LORD STRABOLGIMy Lords, may I ask the Government whether they are aware that censorship of this kind is not really a matter for the Post Office; and furthermore that any suggested interference would be an infringement of individual freedom?
§ THE EARL OF LIMERICKMy Lords, I believe that is in line with the answer I gave.
§ BARONESS SUMMERSKILLMy Lords, would not the noble Earl agree that to stop the circularisation of so many pamphlets and leaflets from the pharmaceutical industry would be in the interests of the nation?
§ THE EARL OF LIMERICKMy Lords, I think that is something of a different question. There are also problems about the companies which produce these products advertising them in any other way.
§ LORD BEAUMONT OF WHITLEYMy Lords, in view of the immense waste of paper and of some of the best creative talent in this country, of which we appear to be slightly short at the moment, will not the Government look at the whole problem again?
§ THE EARL OF LIMERICKMy Lords, I do not think I can add to the Answer I gave. I do not think it would be appropriate to intervene in the way suggested in the Question. Naturally, one hopes that creative talent is always used to the best advantage.