§ Mr. Lubbockasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what was the value and tonnage of waste paper salvaged by local authorities in each of the last five years; and whether, as a contribution towards the solution of the balance of payments difficulties, he will introduce financial and other means of encouraging more local authorities to salvage paper.
§ Mr. MacCollFigures for the whole country are not available. The following are the latest available from returns by 470 local authorities, with a total population of 33 million, of whom about 400 salvage waste paper:
— Value in £ million Tonnage 1962–63 … 1.8 245,000 1961–62 … 2.2 282,000 1960–61 … 2.1 286,000 1959–60 … 2.0 274,000 1958–59 … 2.0 260,000 The best encouragement to local authorities is the offer of satisfactory contracts by the users of waste paper, and my right hon. Friend does not think there should be any need for him to encourage authorities to increase their salvage efforts.