§ Mr. Nallyasked the President of the Board of Trade how many of the estimated total of eight hundred and twenty football pools at present operating were parties to the agreement not to exceed 21 per cent. of their prewar paper supply; and whether those football pool firms that have commenced business since the end of the war are affected in any way by the agreement.
§ Mr. BelcherWhile I am not aware of the number of pools at present operating, six of the principal organisations who obtain their paper by licence have given an undertaking not to exceed 2½ per cent. of the paper they used prewar. On the second part of the Question, I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply I have given him today on a similar subject.
§ Mr. Nallyasked the President of the Board of Trade in what circumstances football pool forecasting agencies are enabled to acquire paper for the publication of weekly pool guides, pamphlets 151W and handbooks; and what action he proposes to take to prevent the sale of paper to such agencies by printers and other holders of paper supplies.
§ Mr. BelcherAccording to the records of the Paper Control no paper is licensed specifically for the use of any football pool forecasting agencies but they may obtain paper from printers' and merchants' stocks of which the supply is not subject to licence. I do not at present contemplate taking any action to prevent this. Where the guides or the like are periodicals, however, the consumption of paper is restricted by order.