HC Deb 23 February 1943 vol 387 cc3-4
4. Mr. W. Brown

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the shortage of ordinary torch batteries and cycle batteries is still acute in the Rugby area; whether he is aware that, in order to obtain batteries which they do want, members of the public are being obliged to purchase torches that they do not want; and what steps he can take to remedy this situation?

Mr. Dalton

As regards supplies of cycle lamp batteries, I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Ayr Burghs (Sir T. Moore) on Tuesday last. Additional supplies of these batteries were sent to Rugby in December and January, and Rugby will receive its fair share of further increases in production both of cycle lamp and torch batteries. As regards the last part of the Question, I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Govan (Mr. N. Maclean) also on Tuesday last.