Mr. Scott-Elliot:

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the importance of salvage, he will arrange for an improvement in the existing method of collection, having particular regard to the shortage of paper.

The lord mayors, mayors, and chairmen of Urban District Councils in the more populous areas in England and Wales have been asked in a personal letter from the Lord President of the Council, the Minister of Healthy the Secretary of State for Scotland and myself, to influence their local authorities in the direction of providing adequate salvage collection machinery. A similar appeal has also been sent to Convenors of County Councils, Lord Provosts and Provosts in Scotland. I cannot too strongly emphasise the necessity for salvage to be kept separate from ordinary refuse.

In view of the extreme importance of salvage at this time, would my right hon. and learned Friend state whether he is prepared to reintroduce the wartime schemes, and in particular to bring back the honorary advisers. valuable men who have now more or less been given the sack, but whose experience would be very useful to the country?

I do not think that that would assist in the present circumstances. I think it is the local authorities whom we need to stimulate at present.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that the position of waste paper supplies is still unsatisfactory and, as it will affect the production of plaster board and other materials badly needed in industry, if he will approach the B.B.C. with a view to enlisting their co-operation in instituting and maintaining a waste paper salvage campaign.

Yes, Sir. The B.B.C. are co-operating with my Department by devoting the "Production Report" to be broadcast on 15th July to salvage matters, and consderable reference will be made to the need for saving waste paper.

Does my right hon. and learned Friend hope to maintain this, because a single broadcast will not produce many results and it is the only medium which can save paper without at the same time involving large expenditure?

The B.B.C. are very co-operative but have many other things to do.

Is the President of the Board of Trade aware that that is not the only way to save paper, and that he should cut out the "bumph"?

Could my right hon. and learned Friend say whether it is the case that we are importing waste paper supplies and, if so, to what extent?

Perhaps my hon. Friend will put that question down.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how collections of waste paper and food scraps compare in quantity with those made two years ago.

Collections of waste paper amounted to 51,783 tons in April, 1947, as compared with 52,569 tons in April, 1945. Overall figures of waste food collections are not available, but collections by local authorities were 25,887 tons and 35,217 tons, respectively, in these months.

Will the President of the Board of Trade give publicity to the fact that one ton of food scraps will put the bacon from one whole pig on the breakfast table, and also to the fact that if collections of waste paper and food scraps were restored to their wartime level we could save millions of dollars?

Publicity has been given to that on quite an extensive scale.