HC Deb 19 March 1942 vol 378 cc1662-3
83. General Sir George Jeffreys

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will reconsider the decision concerning the clothing coupons of serving officers in His Majesty's Forces; and whether he will make these coupons interchangeable, so that they may be used for the officers' families?

Captain Waterhouse

No, Sir. I regret that the stocks of clothing suitable exclusively for civilian use are insufficient to permit their purchase by officers of His Majesty's Forces.

Sir G. Jeffreys

Is my hon. Friend not of opinion that it is a very great hardship upon officers who have growing families that they are denied the same opportunity as civilians of using these coupons?

Captain Waterhouse

This coupon arrangement for officers was specifically for the purpose of buying military clothes. The members of the families of the officers are able themselves to buy civilian clothes for their coupons, and it would be clearly wrong to allow these other coupons to be used for that purpose.