HC Deb 22 June 1943 vol 390 cc981-2
16. Mr. Edmund Harvey

asked the President of the Board of Trade why coupons for laboratory overalls are available for laboratory assistants in universities and technical colleges but not for the professors, lecturers and demonstrators who have to work in these laboratories; and whether he will make provision for coupons to be supplied in such cases?

Mr. Dalton

In view of the stringency of clothing supplies, I have had to limit the general occupational supplement to persons whose work is mainly manual and imposes heavy wear and tear on their clothing. For this reason, I have given the supplement to laboratory assistants and not to teaching staff, who generally spend many of their working hours in the lecture room. I regret that it is not possible for me to re-open the question of the occupational supplement for the present ration- ing period, but I shall be glad to consider any particulars which my hon. Friend may care to send me, in connection with the arrangements for the next rationing period, which begins on 1st September next.