§ Mr. Watsonasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his policy on the use of recycled paper in his Department.
§ Mr. Patrick JenkinI am keen to encourage the greater use of recycled paper in my Department wherever it makes economic sense. Significant use is already made of recycled paper, and I have now decided that, once existing supplies of stationery are exhausted, all letter-headed paper and matching envelopes used both by Ministers and officials in DOE and PSA should be made of 100 per cent. recycled paper. This will be cheaper than the stationery used at present, will conserve natural resources and will encourage the greater use of waste material. My decision should be a welcome boost to the recycling sector of the British paper industry, and I hope that other Government Departments and public bodies will now consider whether it makes sense for them to use more recycled paper as well.