HC Deb 27 July 1943 vol 391 cc1364-5
16. Vice-Admiral Taylor

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether the Government have decided to terminate the existing procedure whereby woollen comforts sent to the ships of the Merchant Navy are sent coupon free; and what is the proposed alteration in the procedure?

Mr. Dalton

In order to ensure a fairer distribution and to prevent any waste of the comforts knitted for members of the Merchant Navy, I propose, at the request of my Noble Friend the Minister of War Transport, to include comforts in the rationing scheme for the Merchant Navy. For this purpose, an extra sixteen coupons, specially marked, will be issued to each seaman over and above his ration for other clothing. Seamen will be able to obtain free comforts, whenever available, against these coupons, which may also be used for purchases in the shops. The scheme will not in any way reduce the supply of comforts available.

Vice-Admiral Taylor

Is my right hon. Friend satisfied that this procedure is necessary, and is he certain that it will not penalise the merchant seamen, both as regards the early supply of comforts and also for replacements? I would also ask him whether he is aware that it is a discriminatory measure against the seamen of the Merchant Navy that does not apply to the ratings of the Army, Navy or Air Force?

Mr. Speaker

That is rather a long question.

Mr. Dalton

My hon. and gallant Friend came to see me yesterday, and we had an interesting discussion on this subject. I understand that he afterwards went to the Ministry of War Transport and had further discussions there. As I told him yesterday, and as I now say to the House, the last thing any of us wish to do is to penalise the Merchant Navy or to discriminate against them. So far as I am concerned, they are at the top of the list. If my hon. and gallant Friend has any further considerations which he would like to put to the Minister of War Transport and myself, we would be very glad to go into the matter again. My advice up to the present is that this scheme would benefit the merchant seamen and assure them of a fairer share of comforts, but I would be glad to look into it further.

Captain Peter Macdonald

Will the right hon. Gentleman consider extending this concession to men and officers serving on coastguard ships, who are also penalised?

Mr. Dalton

Perhaps my hon. and gallant Friend would put that down. It is a different question.

Commander Agnew

In view of the very arduous nature of the work which these men have to carry out, especially in the cold waters of the North, does the right hon. Gentleman not think that the equivalent of 16 coupons is a very small allowance to be obtained in a year, and nothing more?

Mr. Dalton

That must depend to some extent on the quantity of comforts coming forward. The number of r6 was arrived at with the idea that it would about absorb and fairly distribute the quantity of comforts coming forward. I will have that point looked into again.