HC Deb 23 January 1995 vol 253 c7W
Mr. Barry Field

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what representations he has had from the printing industry about changes in the cost of paper over the last 12 months.

Mr. Charles Wardle

My right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade has received no direct representations from the printing industry. Ministers and officials in the Department have regular contact with the British Printing Industries Federation and are aware of the sector's concerns about paper price increase.

Mr. Barry Field

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what studies his Department has made into the change in the costs of paper for the printing industry in the last 12 months.

Mr. Charles Wardle

The Department is aware of the increase in paper prices over this period but has not made any specific studies into the subject.

Mr. Barry Field

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what was the change in(a) the cost of paper for the printing industry, (b) the average cost of raw materials and (c) the average change in the cost of finished products over the last 12 months.

Mr. Charles Wardle

Price indices for raw materials purchased and for home sales by the printing and publishing industry can be obtained from the Central Statistical Office's "Business Monitor", MM22, tables 3 and 4, or alternatively from CSO's central shared database. Access to both is available in the Library of the House. Separate details for the cost of paper purchased by this industry are not available from official sources.