HC Deb 24 July 1989 vol 157 cc468-9W
Mr. Squire

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will take steps to enable local authorities to purchase recycled paper at a price higher than that for equivalent non-recycled paper without incurring financial or other penalties.

Mrs. Virginia Bottomley

No. Local authorities have a duty to their ratepayers to obtain the best value for money in their purchasing of all supplies, including paper. This duty does not preclude them from purchasing recycled paper, or paper with a significant proportion of recycled fibre. Many people who have changed to them have found that such products fully meet their requirements and are cheaper, or no more expensive, than those which they used before.