HC Deb 30 June 1997 vol 297 cc48-9W
Mr. Stunell

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what has been the price per tonne of recycled newsprint in(a) January and (b) June for each year since 1987; and what steps he proposes to facilitate a stable market for recycled paper collected within the United Kingdom. [5454]

Angela Eagle

The Government does not collect these statistics. However, the Paper Federation of Great Britain has collected information on the average prices, paid by British mills, for old newspapers for recycling into newsprint and other paper grades since 1989. These are as follows:

£ per tonne
Year January June
1989 39.93 38.89
1990 34.41 29.44
1991 28.77 28.16
1992 28.25 26.38
1993 24.50 22.98
1994 20.93 21.44
1995 46.72 116.76
1996 55.05 47.40
1997 28.53 1
1 Not yet available.

Average prices for newsprint made from recycled fibres are not available, and are based on private contracts. The Government will consider whether any measures are required to improve the market for recycled paper.