asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the shortage of educational books and of the wasteful production of advertisements of medical and other products sent through the post, he will consider the appointment of a small committee to make recommendations as to the best use of the paper that is available.

No, Sir. Allocations of paper for different purposes are already considered periodically by an Inter-Departmental Committee and I do not consider that the appointment of a further committee would assist the production of educational books.

Is my right hon. and learned Friend aware that doctors are being deluged with circulars concerning medical products in which they have no interest, and could not some way be found to save all that paper?

I am afraid that it is difficult to discriminate between valuable and valueless literature.

Could the right hon. and learned Gentleman say what is meant by the phrase "educational books," and whether it includes republications of the novels of Scott and Dickens and certain other authors, and could he promise that in future that one section of the trade will be responsible for this?

If the hon. Member will put those questions down, I will answer them.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether in view of His Majesty's Government's policy that the paper industry should make progress without delay in recovering its export markets, he -will ensure that supplies of paper for export in the 25th licence period are not further restricted, thus permanently preventing British exporters from beginning their overseas trade.

asked the President of of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that exports of high-quality paper labels are being impeded by shortage of paper; whether the production of printed paper for export or for use as covers on exported goods receives priority over the use of paper for export as plain paper; and what instructions the Paper Control have received in order to encourage this branch of the printing trade.

We are seeking to maintain, and, where possible, to increase our exports of paper and paper products. The position is reviewed at regular intervals, and while a reduction in the export allocation for plain paper has been necessary for the present licensing period, every effort is made to maintain a fair balance between the conflicting claims.

In view of the very high ratio of hard currency earnings that this industry provides, will the President of the Board of Trade give special attention to the necessity of treating its demands sympathetically?

Certainly, but as the hon. Gentleman will have heard from the questions this afternoon there are other claims upon paper.

Will the Minister answer the second part of my Question: whether the production of printed paper for export or for use as covers on exported goods receives priority over the use of paper for export as plain paper ?

There is no priority one way or the other. One has to try to balance the treatment between the two.

Arising from that answer, is the Minister aware that his policy is impeding export because the manufacturers of these highly finished articles are not allowed the necessary paper and materials?

That happens in the case of a great many goods. You cannot export a certain type of goods only. The demand has to be taken generally.

While making these trading connections, will the right hon. and learned Gentleman appreciate that we obtain ten times the value when this paper is made up into books?

Would not my right hon. and learned Friend agree that the time is really ripe now for a careful review of the whole of our paper allocations to see that we provide for the requirements of technical books, in preference to advertisements, bill-posting and so on?

That is a review which is continually being undertaken.