§ 6. Mr. Higgsasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware of the difficulties industrial workers are experiencing in obtaining safety boots; and will he take steps to increase the supplies and give consideration to reducing the number of coupons required for their purchase?
§ Mr. DaltonYes, Sir. I am doing all that is possible to increase output of safety boots, but production is limited by the labour and manufacturing capacity available. Safety boots are already rated at six coupons per pair as against nine coupons for ordinary heavy boots.
§ Mr. HiggsIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that 90 per cent. of foot accidents could be avoided if safety boots were available in greater quantity?
§ Mr. DaltonI am very anxious to do all I can to provide safety boots for all sections whose work makes it desirable they should wear them. In fact, production of safety boots is running at between 500,000 and 600,000 a year. I am endeavouring to increase it. The general difficulty, as in many other cases, is labour.
§ Mr. HiggsAs many accidents would be avoided if safety boots were available, could not the right hon. Gentleman do something about increasing the allocation to the factories in particular?
§ Mr. DaltonWe cannot increase beyond a certain point provision for the civilian population in time of war. There would be many more foot accidents in the Army if they were not looked after properly.