HC Deb 15 July 1947 vol 440 cc21-2W
59. Mr. Osborne

asked the President of the Board of Trade it the allocation of paper to football pool promoters has been cut by the same percentage as that supplied to newspapers; and if he is satisfied that his previous request to football pool promoters not to use more than an agreed percentage of their pre-war paper is still being honoured.

Mr. Belcher

By more. As regards the second part of the question, I have no reason to believe that the principal promoters are not complying with their undertaking.

Mr. Nally

asked the President of the Board of Trade the precise quantities of paper to be allocated by his Department to the principal football pool promoters during the forthcoming football season; whether such allocations now include all envelopes, posters, publicity material, and other paper intended to he used by such firms; and what are the corresponding figures of paper consumption by such pool promoters for the football seasons 1938–39 and 1945–46.

Mr. Belcher

On the first part of the Question no allocation has been fixed beyond the period July/October. On the second and third parts of the Question, I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to him on 9th July. The present allocation is however 1.69 per cent. of prewar consumption as against 2½ per cent. at the beginning of the 1945–46 season and 2¼ per cent. at the end of the season.

Mr. Nally

asked the President of the Board of Trade under what circumstances publicity firms acting for the principal football pool promoters receive paper allocations or acquire paper from merchants or other suppliers; and whether such allocations, or the paper otherwise acquired for football-pool publicity purposes, have hitherto been regarded by his Department as a relevant consideration in determining the paper allocation made direct to the principal pool promoters.

Mr. Belcher

Paper acquired for publicity purposes in connection with football pools would be regarded as a part of the allocation made to the firms concerned, but if my hon. Friend will let me have details of what he has in mind I will look into this further.