HC Deb 06 February 1990 vol 166 c574W
Mr. Colin Shepherd

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is his estimate of the United Kingdom's manufacturing industry's current capacity for recycling waste paper.

Mr. Forth

Although my Department has not attempted a capacity estimate, my hon. Friend will be interested to know that in 1988 United Kingdom paper and board manufacturers consumed a total of 2,416,900 tonnes of waste paper. I understand that last year's total will be even higher.

Mr. Colin Shepherd

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much waste paper was imported into the United Kingdom in the year 1988-89 and the most recent 12 months for which figures are available, expressed in tonnes and sterling value.

Mr. Forth

The figures are as follows:

United Kingdom imports of waste paper and paperboard1
Year ended Tonnes £ thousands
November 1988 59,957 8,970
November 1989 76,349 12,287

Source: Overseas Trade Statistics.

1 Subgroup 251.1 of the Standard International Trade Classification.