§ 49. Miss Wilkinsonasked the Minister of Supply who are the voluntary societies prepared to give free wool for knitting; and whether anyone who is willing to knit for the Forces may get this free wool?
§ Mr. BurginI understand that the voluntary bodies make their own arrangements, and that in a number of cases wool is purchased in bulk and distributed, sometimes free of charge, to responsible voluntary workers who return made-up comforts. I am afraid, however, that I cannot give more than this general picture of the arrangements; but I might draw the attention of the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Financial Secretary of the War Office to a Question asked by the hon. Member for South West St. Pancras (Sir G. Mitcheson) on 6th February, in which he referred to the co-ordinating work of the Director-General of Voluntary Organisations.
§ Miss WilkinsonIf the right hon. Gentleman makes statements referring me to voluntary societies, ought he not to be prepared to give the names of the societies? I cannot discover what societies are doing this work. Is he not aware that his own Director of Supply has asked that gloves, for example, should be knitted, because there is not the necessary knitting machinery available for them? If he wants something definite done, ought he not to make it possible for people to do it?
§ Mr. BurginI referred the hon. Lady myself to the highest possible source.
Sir Nairne Stewart SandemanAre there not thousands of people longing to knit for men at the front who connot get wool, or cannot afford to pay for it?
§ Mr. BurginAbout 340 tons a week of this wool is being made available. That 25 is as much as the spinning machinery can at present consume.
§ Miss WilkinsonBut is the right hon. Gentleman not aware that much of the wool is wasted, because it is being bought by people who can afford to knit anything they like, while the Director has asked that this specific job should be done? Cannot wool be made available for that purpose?