§ 30. Mr. Brookeasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that his decison not to allow the next batch of clothing coupons to be used before October, although all parents of children returning to boarding schools have to equip them with winter clothing by the third week in September, is leaving parents with no option but to have clothes reserved for them at shops and posted to school as soon as the coupons become valid, causing extra trouble, book-keeping and postal work; whether he will antedate the validity of coupons to prevent this; and whether he will have regard to school terms when the time comes to fix coupon dates for 1943–44?
§ Mr. DaltonThe difficulty referred to by my hon. Friend arises chiefly in the case of the older children who pay the full coupon rates, and I have accordingly arranged for the additional coupons to which they are entitled to be available as from 31st August. The facilities at many schools for exchanging outgrown clothes will also be helpful. As regards the second and third parts of the Question, the dates at which the various groups of coupons become valid must be determined by supply considerations, in view of which I cannot see my way to antedate the validity of the brown coupons. Due account will be taken, when the time comes to fix coupon dates for 1943–44, of the dates of school terms, among other relevant factors.
§ Mr. GallacherWould not this difficulty be overcome if they were to send their children to ordinary council schools?