HC Deb 27 April 1937 vol 323 cc152-3
12. Captain Macnamara

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that the Essex Yeomanry have not yet received their green Coronation uniforms as promised; and whether he will expedite their supply to the unit?

The Secretary of State for War (Mr. Duff Cooper)

The approved uniform of the Royal Artillery, to which arm the Essex Yeomanry was converted, is blue; and blue uniforms are available for issue to other ranks of the Essex Yeomanry who are to take part in the Coronation procession. The Essex Territorial Army Association were informed on 13th April that while there was no objection to the detachment of Essex Yeomanry in the Coronation procession wearing green uniform instead of the blue already provided for them, this was subject to the conditions that the special pattern of forage caps and trousers would have to be provided by the unit and that green jackets for other ranks could only be supplied by the Royal Army Ordnance Corps so far as stocks permitted. It is found that green jackets of the sizes required by the unit are not available and the unit has been informed.

Mr. Thorne

Does not the right hon. Gentleman think that soldiers in red uniforms look very much better than they do in either green or blue?

46. Mr. Hardie

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Health, as representing the First Commissioner of Works, the number of tons of steel tubes, beams, and other sections used in the erection of seat-stands for the Coronation?

Sir James Blindell (Lord of the Treasury)

I have been asked to reply. Two thousand seven hundred and twenty tons of steel tubes and couplers have been used in the erection of the Government stands on the processional route. In addition, 155 tons of steel tubes and couplers and 480 tons of structural steel have been used in the construction of the stands within the Abbey and the Annexe.

Mr. Hardie

If there is a shortage of steel for really urgent domestic requirements, why was permission given to divert so much of it from its proper use into this kind of thing? Was no consideration given to the matter?

Sir J. Blindell

The hon. Member had better put that question down.

Mr. Hardie

Where is the Minister who ought to be here to-day to answer this question?

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