HC Deb 26 February 1940 vol 357 cc1736-7W
Mr. Liddall

asked the Postmaster-General why, when the February telephone directories were being distributed in the London area, the old volumes were not collected at the same time; whether he has any estimate of the value of these volumes as waste paper; and whether, in view of the urgent need to eliminate waste, he will see that in future greater care is taken in this respect by his Department?

Major Tryon

All reasonable steps are taken, both in the London area and elsewhere, to collect as many old telephone directories as possible when the new directories are delivered; and special attention has been given to this matter during the war. Some 85 per cent. of the old copies were recovered when the November issue of the London directory was made, representing about 1,125 tons of paper. Steps are being taken to secure an even greater number of returns. The record of the number of old copies recovered in February is, however, not yet complete.