HC Deb 01 December 1943 vol 395 cc340-1
18. Mr. John Dugdale

asked the Secretary of State for Air why airmen have recently keen forbidden to send pyjamas to the Service laundries each week?

Sir A. Sinclair

Airmen's laundry is sent either to a R.A.F. laundry or, under contract, to a commercial laundry. R.A.F. laundries cater only for barrack laundry and airmen's clothing which is a Service issue and therefore do not accept pyjamas, which are not an official issue. No new rule has been introduced, but owing to the general shortage of laundry facilities throughout the country I understand that it has been necessary for certain Regional Officers of the Board of Trade to issue instructions that commercial laundries shall not accept items additional to issue clothing.

Mr. Dugdale

Is the object of this to prevent airmen from wearing pyjamas?

Sir A. Sinclair

The difficulty arises from the great restriction in laundry facilities.