HC Deb 08 May 1956 vol 552 cc94-5W
Sir A. Bossom

asked the President of the Board of Trade his reasons for requiring paper manufacturers to send in returns of the paper they produce, since they can now buy as much raw material as they like; and if he will now discontinue the Department responsible for these returns.

Mr. P. Thorneycroft

Regular and up-to-date information about industrial production forms an essential part of the economic statistics which the Government need in order to frame their economic policy to the best advantage. I understand that the paper manufacturers also find these statistics useful.