§ Mr. FARRELLasked the Prime Minister whether he exercises any control over 568W the Paper Commission; whether he is aware that, in consequent of his recent pronouncement on paper restrictions, the Irish paper trade has been practically killed, no supplies being in reserve in that country, and no goods to be got even at double previous prices from English or Scottish mills; whether he is aware that all the smaller printing offices in Ireland will be starved out under the new restrictions, which will mean the starvation and disemployment of a large body of printers and machinists; and whether he will direct the Paper Commission to specially consider the claims of these men who are faced with ruin in consequence of the new Order?
Mr. ROBERTSUnder the new Regulations of the Paper Commission, of which I am sending the hon. Member a copy, importers and users of paper in Ireland, as in other parts of the United Kingdom, will be entitled to import or to obtain from their previous suppliers one-half of the-quantity of paper for printing which they received last year. Any case of failure of a supplier to furnish a particular user with the amount to which he is entitled under these Regulations should be reported to the Paper Commission.