HC Deb 26 March 1942 vol 378 cc2154-5
78. Mr. A. Edwards

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will consider the advisability of prohibit- ing the production of any commodity which is not essential for the war effort?

The Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Trade (Captain Waterhouse)

The policy of the Board of Trade has been to curtail the production of non-essential goods, and this process is being accelerated.

Mr. Edwards

Does the hon. and gallant Gentleman realise that if he prevented these goods from being manufactured, he would remove the only justification for the extravagant and wasteful organisation known as the War Savings organisation?

Captain Waterhouse

The difficulty is to reach agreement on essentials and non-essentials.