§ 60. Mr. Hurdasked the President of the Board of Trade what steps he is taking to encourage the development of new techniques for paper manufacture from straw which promises to save the purchase abroad of esparto grass and also save coal in the manufacturing process.
§ Mr. BelcherI understand that with their existing plant, paper makers require more coal per ton of paper produced if they use straw in place of esparto. I should welcome any developments which entailed a reduction in coal consumption and any paper maker is free to use straw in place of esparto if he wishes to do so.