§ Mr. Moonmanasked the Secretary of State for Industry what are the amounts of British newsprint manufacture for the years 1967 up to the latest available date.
§ Mr. MeacherNewsprint production in the United Kingdom from 1967 to the latest available date was:
Thousand tonnes 1967 714.5 1968 735.3 1969 789.4 1970 756.9 1971 575.4 1972 467.5 1973 441.9 1974 Jan. 29.8 Feb. 33.1 Mar. 40.3 Apr. 34.8 May 29.4 167.4 (five months)
§ Mr. Moonmanasked the Secretary of State for Industry what steps he has taken since 1st March 1974 to help to increase British newsprint manufacture to offset the current world shortage.
§ Mr. MeacherThere is no short-term means of increasing production when British mills are working at full capacity and overseas suppliers, who provide two thirds of the United Kingdom consumption, are also at full stretch and cannot provide more. There are some signs that the world supply situation may ease in the coming months, though it remains tight at present.