HC Deb 29 November 1948 vol 458 cc159-60W
Mr. Sutcliffe

asked the President of the Board of Trade in what circumstances the Bureau of Current Affairs has allocated approximately 120 tons of paper to the West Riding County Council for the production and circulation of 400,000 copies of an illustrated brochure giving a survey of their development and achievements after his Department had previously refused the application.

Mr. H. Wilson

The Bureau of Current Affairs receives an allocation of paper for the production of certain publications for the purpose of popular education in current affairs and citizenship. The West Riding County Council applied in July, 1948, for a special licence for paper for an educational brochure about the activities of the County Council. It was felt, however, that in view of the paper shortage special facilities could not be given to an individual local authority. Later, the Bureau sought to use part of their allocation to publish the brochure on behalf of the County Council and, as this did not involve the use of extra paper, no objection was raised. I understand that the Bureau will actually use substantially less than 120 tons of paper for the brochure.