HC Deb 09 October 1946 vol 427 cc70-1W
Sir W. Darling

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that his Department has refused to allow any paper allocations whatever to enable a publishing firm which ceased publishing in 1936 and desires to take up again its former activities; and why he is thus preventing experienced publishers from carrying on business for which they are qualified and experienced.

Sir S. Cripps

Owing to the continuing shortage of paper, supplies for book-publishing are made available to established firms in proportion to the amount they consumed in the 12 months prior to the institution of control. In addition, small quotas are granted to ex-Service-men with experience, or to persons who have been publishing for a considerable period, but who did not use paper prior to the war. I am prepared to consider any case of hardship on its merits, but the firm to which I presume my hon. Friend refers would be a new one. Our paper supplies do not, at present, allow us to make paper available in such a case.