asked the Minister of Supply whether he will state the policy of the Government in regard to the collection, classification and treatment of all household waste commodities; and what instructions have been issued to local authorities to ensure such policy being carried out?

The policy of the Government in regard to the salvage of household waste is to stimulate to the utmost degree possible the collection, classification, and treatment of household waste by the local authorities throughout the country. To assist the local authorities in rural areas and other places where economical collection may be difficult, the co-operation of various voluntary organisations has been enlisted, such as the Boy Scouts, the Women's Voluntary Service, the Women's Institutes, and the Red Cross. A comprehensive memorandum on the subject was issued to local authorities on 30th November and has been followed up by subsequent circulars, as well as by district conferences, and the appointment of 22 honorary district advisers, covering most of the country. Further steps are being taken or in consideration to enlist the fullest and earliest co-operation of local authorities and other appropriate bodies. I am sending to my hon. Friend copies of the circulars referred to.

While thanking my right hon. Friend for his reply, may I ask whether he is aware that very few citizens really know what is the policy or the system of the Government in regard to this matter and that they are only too willing to co-operate and help in every way; and will he consider issuing propaganda with a view to bringing home to private citizens what their duties are in regard to this most vital matter?

Yes, Sir, certainly. A vast amount of such propaganda and explanation is already being done. I would like the House to realise that the collection of waste on a country-wide scale is an enormous undertaking. I shall be giving figures in reply to later Questions showing the extent to which we are already succeeding but I shall want a great deal of collaboration and help and I feel that the facts must be made widely known to the country.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the vast Majority of citizens are most anxious to discharge their duty in this respect and that the real difficulty is that hundreds of local authorities refuse to take any responsibility for accepting separate supplies of metal and paper and similar household waste apart from the ordinary refuse; and will he, if necessary, take compulsory powers to force local authorities to do their duty in this respect?

I understand that the facts are, very largely, as stated by the hon. Baronet. The public are aware that this is a matter of collection and segregation at the outset and then rapid disposal, and it is, as I have said, a very big problem. A great many more local authorities are now coming into the scheme. If local authorities will not do so, other powers must be sought, but that will be primarily a matter for my right hon. Friend the Minister of Health.

Is the Minister aware that in order to carry out the intention which he has expressed, a separate dust-bin will be necessary for every householder which means considerable expense?

Is it not the case that this salvage work is being done in other parts of the country?

asked the Minister of Supply (1) whether he is aware that the waste paper collected from households must be classified as mixed waste paper, for which the maximum price obtainable is 1s. per hundredweight; is he further aware that this price does not cover the cost of collection, and therefore, this raw material is being entirely lost; and will he have a comprehensive inquiry into the whole question;

(2) whether he is aware that, in response to wireless and other appeals, tens of thousands of householders saved their waste paper but have now been compelled to burn it as no one could be got to collect this waste; and will he say what action he proposes to take to get this valuable raw material collected?

As I stated in reply to my hon. Friend on the 15th February, papers which are sorted and graded ready for manufacture or are baled and sold in quantities of four tons or more can command a higher price than 1s. per cwt. Active steps are being taken to increase the collection of waste paper, and a further circular has recently been addressed to local authorities, who are now organising the collection of waste paper from householders in increasing numbers. The present rate of collection is about 1,000 tons per week. It is hoped that a much larger quantity will eventually be collected each week.

asked the Minister of Supply what action is being taken by Chelsea Borough Council to collect waste products suitable for feeding-stuffs?

The Metropolitan Borough Council of Chelsea have themselves no facilities for the collection of kitchen waste for pig feeding, but in certain areas in the borough, contractors undertake the collection of kitchen waste from hotels and restaurants for sale to pig keepers. The borough council has informed me that it is deeply interested in the collection of waste and that the subject of direct collection is again being fully considered.

Cannot something be done to hurry it up in the blocks of flats where there appears to have been no action taken?

Yes, Sir, I will do what I can. I think Chelsea was the first borough in the country after the outbreak of war to put forward a general scheme of this kind.

Will the Minister consider the desirability, in the interests of fertilisers, of encouraging the collection of bones?

Yes, Sir.

Will the Minister confer with his colleague the Minister of Food to ensure that when this food is collected there is an adequate market for it?

Yes, Sir.

asked the Minister of Supply what action is being taken in Lincolnshire to collect waste products suitable for feeding-stuffs from borough and urban districts; and which local authorities have schemes actually working?

The Salvage Department of the Ministry of Supply has called for monthly salvage returns from those local authorities whose districts have a population of 10,000 or over. There are 11 such boroughs and urban districts in the county of Lincolnshire. Of these local authorities, four have submitted returns showing that kitchen waste suitable for pig feeding is being salved. These four local authorities are the boroughs of Louth and Scunthorpe, where kitchen waste is being collected by the local pig keepers themselves; the borough of Cleethorpes, where 6 cwts. was salved in each of the months of November and December, 1939, and 12 cwts. in January, 1940; and the urban district of Gainsborough, which salved 68 lbs. in January, 1940. I am hoping that with increasing realisation of the importance of salvage there will be a great improvement in these figures.

In view of the loss of livestock in this county, will the Minister do all he can to get some of the bigger boroughs to do their share?

Yes, Sir.