§ 34. Mrs. McKayasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will now issue a circular to local authorities to 44W encourage them to salvage waste paper and make it thus more readily available for the paper and board industry, so as to economise in import costs.
§ Mr. MacCollMy hon. Friend will know that the Economic Development Committee for the paper and board industry have just appointed a working party, on which the Board of Trade and this Department are represented, to consider how supplies of waste paper can be increased. My right hon. Friend prefers to await their report before considering whether to issue a circular.
§ Mrs. McKayasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what instructions have been issued by his Department since 1951 on the salvaging of wastepaper in the national interest.
§ Mr. MacCollNone, and none would have been justified. There was a heavy fall in demand and prices in 1952. The market for wastepaper subsequently continued to fluctuate and at times the quantities offered to the mills were an embarrassment to them.
§ Mrs. McKayasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT details of the number of local authorities which have no separate wastepaper collection and salvage arrangements, and the estimated loss of revenue this entails.
§ Mr. MacCollMy right hon. Friend has no complete list. Probably about 600 authorities, including many of the smaller ones, do not salvage wastepaper at all. It cannot be assumed without detailed inquiry that revenue would exceed collection costs.