HC Deb 11 September 1942 vol 383 cc507-8
19. Colonel Arthur Evans

asked the President of the Board of Trade what reply he has made to the representations made by the Welsh sports retail traders to reeonsider his proposal to make Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes responsible for the distribution of sports goods to the Services, as this is a specialised and technical trade which is in a position to ensure priority of supply of the limited goods available to the Services and other approved sports organisations and will still be required to attend to repairs and be responsible for the distribution of certain other sports equipment?

Captain Waterhouse

I assume that my hon. and gallant Friend is referring to certain representations that he has received from a Welsh retailer of sports goods. On the reasons for the arrangements that have been made I would refer Mm to the reply which my hon. Friend the Financial Secretary to the War Office gave to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for East Renfrew (Major Lloyd) on 9th September, 1942.

Colonel Evans

Can my hon. and gallant Friend say, in view of the statement in his reply to a supplementary question that it is not the policy of the Board of Trade to interfere with the retail industry unless it is vitally necessary, how many complaints have been received by the Board of Trade or by the War Office from military formations that they are unable or have been unable in the past to secure sports goods through the usual channels of the retail trade?

Captain Waterhouse

We have had many complaints that individuals have not been able to obtain sports goods, but sports goods are necessarily in very short supply during the war.

Colonel Evans

Admitting that fact of short supply, is my hon. and gallant Friend satisfied that sufficient evidence has been produced to show why the limited supply should not be distributed to the Services through the usual channels of the retail trade?

Captain Waterhouse

This decision was taken in consultation with the War Office, our object being to obtain the fairest possible distribution of the very limited supplies available. That it has created some hardship we realise, but on balance we believe it is the right line.

Sir T. Moore

What is the justification for granting a further monopoly to an already much-favoured institution?