§ Mr. Sainsburyasked the Minister for the Civil Service when he expects to receive the results of the consideration by Her Majesty's Stationery Office of the Waste Management Advisory Group's recommendation on the greater use of paper and board with a high content of indigenous raw materials; and whether he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Charles R. MorrisHer Majesty's Stationery Office was associated with the discussions which led to the recommendations put forward to the Waste Management Advisory Council by the Advisory Group on Waste Paper recycling, and I am pleased to announce that the following steps to implement their recommendations have already been taken.
The specifications for board supplied to HMSO now stipulate that 100 per cent. recycled fibre must be used.
Specifications for manilla now stipulate 50 per cent. recycled fibre. Although suppliers are looking at ways of increasing this amount, recent experience suggests that the limit of recycled fibre may have been reached, if the manilla is to meet the demands made upon it.
Further trials will take place shortly of a telephone directory paper containing a higher proportion of recycled de-inked fibres.
A research programme for the increased use of waste sponsored by HMSO is being undertaken by PIRA, the Paper and Board, Printing and Packaging Industries Research Association. This project was started in September 1975 and should be completed by June 1976. The results so far achieved are encouraging.
As well as encouraging the greater reuse of waste paper HMSO's paper specifications are designed to permit the maximum use of pulp produced in the United Kingdom.