§ 112. Mr. WATERSONasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can make a statement as to the proposed establishment of a standard boot and shoe scheme; and what proportion of the total supplies will be included in this scheme?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the BOARD of TRADE (Mr. Bridgeman)A voluntary standard boot scheme has been established by the Incorporated Federated Association of Boot and Shoe Manufacturers of Great Britain and Ireland. The scheme was examined by the Standing Committee on Prices of the Central Committee, who found the scheme to be conceived in the public interest and likely to be of benefit, not only in providing the public with standard boots of recognised quality at reasonable prices, but also generally, in stabilising the market as a whole. I am sending the hon. Member a copy of the Committee's Report (Cmd. 592). I understand that the Federated Manufacturers propose to allocate about one-third of their total output to the scheme.
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANNo. It is a voluntary scheme.