§ Mr. Gregor Mackenzieasked the President of the Board (1) what was the total production in value and volume of Scottish paper and board producers in each year from 1958 to the latest convenient date;
(2) what was the total production in value and volume of United Kingdom paper and board producers in each year from 1958 to the latest convenient date.
§ Mr. DellThe figures requested are shown in the table below:
317W
PRODUCTION OF PAPER AND BOARD: UNITED KINGDOM AND SCOTLAND, 1958–1968 Quantity produced thousand tons Total value of sales by producers* £m. United Kingdom Scotland United Kingdom Scotland 1958 … 3,502 385 313 48 1959 … 3,655 418 327 50 1960 … 4,073 474 371 55 1961 … 4,026 465 374 55 1962 … 3,952 457 371 56 1963 … 4,057 478 383 58 1964 … 4,405 506 418 63 1965 … 4,541 520 445 63 1966 … 4,526 531 451 64 1967 … 4,403 531 441 61 1968† … 4,592 550 502 69 * Estimates of the total value of sales of establishments classified to the paper and board trade based on figures from the censuses of production for 1958 and 1963. Sales include a small amount of duplication to the extent that some paper is sold by one producer to another (e.g. for coating). Also included are sales of goods other than paper and board produced by these establishments, merchanted goods, and canteen takings, which together amount to about 8 per cent. of total sales. † Estimated from figures for the first eleven months of 1968.
§ Mr. Gregor Mackenzieasked the President of the Board of Trade how many production units in the paper and board making industry have closed down in each year from 1958 to the latest convenient date.
§ Mr. DellFigures are not available for the earlier years but the number of mill closures in the years 1965 to 1968, which may be subject to minor error, was 5, 6, 8 and 7, respectively. Over the past decade, rationalisation in the paper and board industry has led to a net reduction in the number of mills and machines and an increase in output.
§ Mr. Gregor Mackenzieasked the President of the Board of Trade what has been the total value of Government grants, etc., given to manufacturers of paper and board in the United Kingdom in each year from 1958 to the latest convenient date.
§ Mr. DellManufacturers of paper and board are eligible for the full range of Government assistance given to manufacturing industry generally. The information requested by my hon. Friend is not readily available and could not be provided without disproportionate expenditure of time and money.