HC Deb 08 January 1942 vol 377 cc56-8W
Mr. Garro Jones

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Supply Whether, up to 30th October last, publications had been allotted paper on a percentage of the pre-war consumption of individual publications or on each publisher's total requirements; and, if on the latter basis, what restraint was placed on large consumption of paper by publications useless in the war effort?

Mr. Harold Macmillan

Up to 30th November last, a publisher was allowed paper for periodicals on the basis of prewar consumption of all his periodicals and it was left to each publisher to determine how his ration should be allocated between them. Paper is now, however, allotted to a publisher on the basis of each of his periodicals separately and is not interchangeable.

Mr. Garro Jones

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Supply, with reference to the 6 per cent. supplementary paper ration, what was the total amount of paper represented by this percentage; what is the present rationing period; which two publishers received the largest supplementary ration; and how much additional paper each of them received?

Mr. Macmillan

The current rationing period for periodicals is from 30th November, 1941, to 28th February, 1942. The total amount of paper allocated for that period is approximately 14,000 tons, of which some 820 tons covers the supplementary rations allowed in special cases. The two publishers which received the largest supplementary ration in the current licensing period are George Newnes, Ltd., with an aggregate of 110 tons 12 cwts., and Everybodys Publications, Ltd., with 110 tons.

Mr. Garro Jones

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Supply whether he knows the amount of paper used by all the various Press publications and periodicals; and whether he has exercised any restriction in respect of the amount of paper used by any single periodical or publication where such periodical or publication is part of a group published by the same publisher?

Mr. Macmillan

The answer to the first part of the Question is in the affirmative. As regards the second part, starting with the current licensing period, which began on 30th November last, paper is now allocated to each periodical separately by reference to a basic period.

Mr. Garro Jones

a asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Supply whether he is satisfied with a system of paper rationing which may enable a publisher of many periodicals, if the circulation of some of them has declined, to use for one or more of the remainder, which may be of no importance to the war effort, large supplies of paper which may amount to a consumption of paper greater than the pre-war consumption?

Mr. Macmillan

The practice of leaving publishers to determine how the paper allocated to them should be divided amongst their various periodicals has been superseded by a system under which supplies are allocated to publishers on the basis of each periodical separately.