§ Mr. Bartlettasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the students for accountancy examinations have to wait three months or longer to obtain the necessary text books; and what steps he proposes to take to assure an adequate supply of such text books.
§ Mr. BelcherThe shortage of text books, to which the hon. Member refers, is due to the shortage of paper and of labour in the printing and bookbinding trades. Publishers' regular paper quotas have, however, been increased substantially 429W over the last nine months—from 42½per cent. to 75 per cent. of prewar usage. In addition, it is open to any publisher, who cannot bring out an important text book merely from lack of paper, to apply for a special allocation for that purpose.
Provision has been made under the Class "B" Block release scheme for the release from His Majesty's Forces of 750 printing and binding operatives. During the four months October to January last, the total numbers employed in the printing, publishing and allied trades increased by over 4,000 a month.