§ 79. Sir FRANCIS LOWEasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware of the effect which the Army Council Order of the 4th December, 1917, regulating the manufacture and sale of certain kinds of women's boots has had upon the trade, that it has resulted in wholesale and retail dealers in boots being obliged to hold up large stocks of boots which were completed and ready for sale at the date of the Order and that the quantity of stocks so held up was, approximately, 1,500,000 pairs and the cash value of them about £1,250,000; whether he is aware that the Amending Order recently issued does not in reality remedy this grievance, as it only allows the sale if these goods in June and July, when the demand is far less than it is in the spring; and whether he proposes to take any action in the matter?
§ Mr. FORSTERI would refer my hon. Friend to the answer which I gave on this subject on 13th March to the hon. Member for Nottingham East. The Department has since arranged for a census of stocks of civilian boots to be taken on 31st March and for a special return to be made of boots of the types referred to.
§ Sir F. LOWEAm I to understand that they will be allowed to sell those already in stock?
§ Mr. FORSTERWe want rather more information before we can make any change in the decision already taken.
§ Sir F. LOWEDoes the right hon. Gentleman realise that women must have boots, either high or low, to wear, and that to continue the prohibition or the sale of these boots will be no conservation of the stock of leather in the country?
§ Mr. FORSTERThey are anxious that no more high boots shall be made.
§ Sir F. LOWEWill those in stock be allowed to be sold?