The text on this page has been created from Hansard archive content, it may contain typographical errors.
131.
Mr. John Morrison
asked the President of the Board of Trade why esparto grass is being imported into this country for paper making; and why surplus straw in this country is not being used for this purpose, in order to save foreign exchange and benefit British farmers.
Mr. Belcher
Esparto has advantages for the production of certain papers and its use involves a smaller consumption of coal. As far as possible the choice between home produced straw and esparto from North Africa within the supplies available is left to the paper makers.