2. Mr. Andersonasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will state whom he consulted with regard to the Clothes Rationing Orders and the schedules of coupons required for articles of clothing covered by the Orders; whether any organisations of working women have been consulted on the matter; and what was the basis upon which the various schedules were compiled?
§ The President of the Board of Trade (Sir Andrew Duncan)The schedules of coupons required for the articles of clothing covered by the Clothes Rationing Order are based in general on the amount of cloth in the garments concerned. The present schedules have been based on the technical advice received from advisory committees of traders, including traders with a special knowledge and long experience of workers' requirements.
Sir Joseph NailWhen the right hon. Gentleman says that coupons are based on the quantity of cloth in the garment, does he realise that women who have been in the habit of making their clothes at home find it impossible to obtain the necessary materials upon the present coupon basis?
§ Sir A. DuncanThere have been difficulties, but I understand they have been overcome.
Mr. AndersonDo I take it that people who are conversant with the wear and tear properties of materials have not been consulted and that only traders' organisations have been consulted?
§ Sir A. DuncanNo, Sir, I did not say "traders' organisations," but traders 1600 with great experience of workers' requirements.
§ Sir A. DuncanNo, Sir.
§ 3. Mr. Tinkerasked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been drawn to the need of cotton spinners of white factory drawers which they wear at work, and because of oil getting on them they require frequent washing and do not last long; and will he consider allowing this particular article additional coupons?
§ Sir A. DuncanThe special needs of cotton spinners submitted by the Trades Union Congress are now being examined by the Board of Trade. Additional coupons will be awarded to them if their clothing needs are found to exceed substantially those covered by the normal civilian ration.
§ Mr. TinkerWill the right hon. Gentleman pay greater attention to the needs of the workers? Does he not realise that the better-off people can do with fewer clothes and that the workers need more because of being at work?
§ Sir A. DuncanVery close attention is being paid to the special needs of workers, and, as I have already explained in the answer, the Trades Union Congress have submitted particulars of most of the trades.