HC Deb 16 December 1964 vol 704 cc101-2W
Mr. Lubbock

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what was the value and tonnage of waste paper salvaged by local authorities in each of the last five years; and whether, as a contribution towards the solution of the balance of payments difficulties, he will introduce financial and other means of encouraging more local authorities to salvage paper.

Mr. MacColl

Figures for the whole country are not available. The following are the latest available from returns by 470 local authorities, with a total population of 33 million, of whom about 400 salvage waste paper:

Value in £ million Tonnage
1962–63 1.8 245,000
1961–62 2.2 282,000
1960–61 2.1 286,000
1959–60 2.0 274,000
1958–59 2.0 260,000

The best encouragement to local authorities is the offer of satisfactory contracts by the users of waste paper, and my right hon. Friend does not think there should be any need for him to encourage authorities to increase their salvage efforts.