§ Mr. Manderasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Supply whether he will give particulars of the formation of the Paper Makers Straw Trading Company, a non-profit-earning company, its objects, and to what extent it is under Government control?
§ Mr. Harold MacmillanThe Paper Makers Straw Trading Company was formed as a private limited liability company in December last with the object of acquiring straw and distributing it to paper mills equipped to use it. Since the collapse of France and the loss of French North Africa as a source of supply, esparto grass has not been available for paper making except in very small quantities and the esparto mills have turned to straw as the best substitute. The company was formed by a section of the Paper Makers Association of Great Britain and Ireland and acquires straw under the authority of a Direction under the Control of Paper (No. 26) Order, which provides, in effect, that straw for paper mills may only be acquired through the company. The company is not under Government control, but it works in close collaboration with the Paper Control, the Ministry of Agriculture and other Government Departments interested in straw, and its use and transportation.