asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Supply the present quantity of paper granted for hoarding advertisements; and whether a further reduction will be considered in the national interest?

During the past six months no licences have been issued for the supply of new poster paper, except for Government contracts. There are, I understand, some small stocks of poster paper and of obsolete posters in the hands of printers and others.

Would it not be better if the Government were to claim these stocks, which are being used for purposes which are not in the national interest?

The problem of collecting small stocks is a serious one, and we do not think it worth while.

If it is not possible to use the hoardings, will the hon. Gentleman consider collecting the hoardings as well?

That has been considered, and in some cases it is worth while but in some others it is not.