HC Deb 20 April 1943 vol 388 cc1516-7
17. Mr. Mathers

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will consider the issue of coupons for clothing and for articles of household use separately, as a means of assisting in a better balance of consumption?

20. Mr. W. H. Green

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has considered a communication from a women's organisation in Deptford urging the issue of special additional coupons to housewives, available only for the purchase of household linen, etc., and whether he can make a statement?

Mr. Dalton

I would refer my hon. Friends to the replies given to similar Questions on this subject on 26th January and 2nd February, of which I am sending them copies.

Mr. Green

Does the right hon. Gentleman appreciate that an enormous number of mothers feel a sense of grievance in that coupons which are specifically for their personal clothing requirements have to be used for household requirements?

Mr. Dalton

If my hon. Friend will be so kind as to read the answers I have referred to, he will see that there are very great difficulties in doing what he proposes. I am willing to consider at any time anything that I can do to remove any legitimate grievance, subject to the overbearing problem of the shortage of supplies, which determines all these matters.