§ 23. Commander Sir Archibald Southbyasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has further considered the question of the supply of sports goods to the Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes, whereby ordinary traders in these goods are placed at a severe disadvantage; and 1140 whether he will now take steps to ensure that the ordinary trade shall have equal facilities to obtain supplies to meet the service demands?
§ Mr. LytteltonYes, Sir. I am arranging that the Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes will not supply sports goods direct to individuals but only to units of His Majesty's Forces; and retail traders will be allowed to obtain supplies of sports goods without restriction against a certificate from the unit commander, in order to replace goods sold to such units. Thus they will have equal facilities. Perhaps I may take this opportunity of announcing that new arrangements are also being made regarding the supply by the Institutes of other goods controlled by the Limitation of Supplies Orders. By agreement with the institutes, I am cancelling the arrangement whereby they were able to obtain unrestricted supplies of certain classes of goods. For other classes, the institutes have agreed to a substantial restriction of their purchases and sales. These arrangements will remove anomalies complained of by retail shopkeepers but I must not disguise the fact that they will impose on soldiers, as well as on civilians, the need to economise consumption.
§ Sir A. SouthbyThat answer will give great satisfaction to the retail trade.
§ Mr. R. GibsonOn what basis will the supply to these institutes of restricted goods now be made?
§ Mr. LytteltonIn so far as that is covered by my answer, it will be a restriction which is applicable to these goods in the Limitation of Supplies Order.