HC Deb 19 January 1943 vol 386 cc7-8
7. Mr. Kirby

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in order to meet the pressing needs of war-workers and in order to reduce absenteeism, he will arrange immediately for a wide distribution to retailers of alarm clocks and cycle lamp batteries for sale at reasonable prices?

Mr. Dalton

Before the war nearly all our alarm clocks were imported, and we now depend mainly on the United States for our supplies. Imports from the United States have decreased owing to the requirements of American war production. My representative in Washington has already taken up this question with the United States authorities, and I am now myself in communication on the subject with my right hon. and gallant Friend the Minister Resident in Washington for Supply. The Service demand for batteries absorbs a large part of the current output and has much increased lately. I recently asked the head of the firm who are responsible for the bulk of home production to come and see me and impressed on him the importance of doing everything possible to increase production so as to meet civilian as well as Service requirements. The supplies made available for civilians during the past six months have been substantial, and I hope it may be possible to increase them still further.

Mr. Kirby

While I thank my right hon. Friend for his reply, will he bear in mind the urgency of this problem in relation to production?

Mr. Dalton

I intend to keep on prodding with regard to both these things.

Sir Herbert Williams

Does the right hon. Gentleman's answer include electric alarm clocks, which use a smaller weight of metal than mechanical ones?

Mr. Dalton

Yes, Sir. With regard to the electric and the other variety, we are still dependent nearly exclusively on the United States for imports of these. Before the war we got them largely from France, Italy and Switzerland, as well as the United States.

Mr. R. J. Taylor

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the lack of alarm clocks is having a serious effect in the coalfields in the North, where large numbers of miners go to work at one o'clock and two o'clock in the morning, and are largely dependent on alarm clocks?

Mr. Dalton

Yes, Sir, I am very conscious of that. That is one of the reasons I am pressing vigorously forward in the matter.

Mr. Thorne

Could not my right hon. Friend arrange to have the old knockers-up with a long pole?

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